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Froul  ilurper's  Weekly-. 


Copyrigbl,  lt»94f  1>>  Harptr  ^  Urutbers. 


Hn  Memortam 


l2^^2  :^Bltgman 


Born  af  Bagerstiorf,  Baoaria,  JIugusf  11,  1827 
Bie&  af  aEoronabo  Beacli,  (Sal.,   3lprtl  23,  1894 


■a? 


n  PRINTED    POR    PRIVATE    CIRCULATION 


©BID  l^orh 
Prtss  of  ^Irilip  QIoiuEn,  213-215  (East  44tb  ^IxitX 

1894 


COIVKIGHTED,     1S94, 

Bv  Theodore  Seugman. 


CONTENTS. 


Poem:     By  Noah  Davis  .         ,         .         .         , 

Autobiographical 

Tributes:     Gathered  by  The  American  Hebrew 

The  Funeral 

Resolutions    . 

In  the  Pulpit 

At  the  Asylum 

Memorial  Services 
Newspaper  Extracts 


PACK 
I 

3 

17 
47 
66 

73 

Si 

88 

lOg 


Jjesse  SeliQtwaii:. 


By  Noah  Davis. 


His  was  another  race  than  mine, 

Another  faith,  from  which  mine  sprung  ; 

He  traced  his  hneage  by  another  Hne, 

And  gained  his  manhood  in  another  tongue. 

Yet  when  he  sought  our  common  sky, 
And  breathed  the  welcome  of  its  air, 

His  soul  rose  up,  as  eagles  fly, 

To  the  full  heights  of  manhood  there. 

Oh,  Brother  ours !  whose  life  has  beamed 
With  faith  in  God,  with  love  of  man, 

Through  which  thy  patriot  virtues  streamed. 
To  bless  and  aid  our  noble  land. 

I  stand  to-day  beside  thy  bier, 

To  own  thy  brotherhood  divine. 

And  proudly  claim,  with  many  a  tear. 
That  Israel's  God  is  thine  and  mine. 

New  York,  May,  1894. 


Autobiographical. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL. 


The  story  of  Jesse  Seligman's  life  is  nowhere  so 
fully  or  so  well  told  as  in  the  following  speech 
delivered  at  the  banquet  given  in  his  honor  at  Del- 
monico's  on  October  ist,  1891  : 

"  Mr.  Chairman  and  Friends  :  My  heart  is  full 
of  gratitude  to  each  one  of  you  for  the  very  kind 
expressions  uttered  by  your  Chairman  and  to  which 
you  have  given  so  warm  a  response.  If  I  ever  had 
any  doubts  as  to  whether  life  was  worth  living,  they 
are  now  entirely  dispelled,  because  this  occasion  fur- 
nishes me  with  abundant  proof  that  the  small  services 
that  I  have  rendered  to  mankind  have  been  indeed 
highly  appreciated. 

"When  I  first  landed  in  this  country,  little  did  I 
think  that  after  a  residence  here  of  fifty  years  or  more 
I  would  be  surrounded  by  so  many  friends  whose 
faces,  while  beaming  with  joy,  betray  nevertheless 
great  anxiety  to  have  me  leave  the  country,  even 
though  it  be  for  a  short  time.  And  as  a  punishment 
for  your  eagerness  to  thus  dispose  of  me  I  intend  to 
inflict  on  you  a  brief  history  of  my  life  and  career. 

"  I  was  born  in  a  small  village  called  Stadt  Bayers- 
dorf,  Bavaria,  where  my  ancestors,  dating  back  over 
two  hundred  years,  are  buried.  My  parents  were 
good,  honest,  noble  and  charitable.  Their  family 
consisted  of  eleven  children,  eight  sons  and  three 
daughters.  M}^  eldest  brother,  Joseph  Seligman, 
having  graduated  from  the  university  in  Erlanger, 
thought  that  he  would  do  well  to  seek  his  fortune  in 
the  new  country,  the  United  States  of  America,  and 
on  his  arrival  here,  in  the  year  1837,  he  obtained 
employment  as  cashier  with  Mr.  Asa  Packer.    Kncour- 


6  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

aged  by  his  success,  my  next  two  older  brothers, 
William  and  James  followed,  in  the  year  1839.  I  was 
then  at  the  gymnasium,  making  preparations  to  enter 
the  university  at  Erlanger.  After  receiving  glowing 
letters  from  my  brothers  in  America,  I  asked  permis- 
sion of  my  parents  to  go  to  the  new  country  also. 

"They  assented,  and  on  May  i,  1841,  I  started  for 
Bremen,  and  after  reaching  there  I  learned  that  the 
vessel  that  was  to  carry  me  across  was  a  small  ship 
bearing  tlie  name  Johan  Georgic.  When  on  board,  I 
inquired  for  my  cabin,  and  one  was  accordingly 
assigned  me.  I  found  it  was  also  to  be  occupied  by 
three  other  passengers.  The  interior  decorations  of 
the  cabin  were  not  of  a  very  high  order,  viewed  from 
an  artistic  standpoint.  The  ceiling  and  walls  were 
covered  with  whitewash,  which  had  evidently  been 
laid  on  in  liberal  quantities,  judging  from  the  trans- 
formation undergone  by  one's  wearing  apparel  after 
coming  in  contact  with  it.  The  bed,  while  not  a  bed 
of  roses,  consisted  of  a  soft  wooden  board,  with  a 
blanket  to  cover  the  occupant  while  he  enjoyed  his 
peaceful  slumbers. 

"  The  menu  could  scarcely  be  said  to  rival  that  pre- 
pared under  the  supervision  of  Delmonico's  chef;  it 
was  made  out  daily  and  consisted  one  day  of  pork,  beans 
and  a  cup  of  water  ;  the  next  day,  of  beans,  pork  and 
a  cup  of  water,  and  the  following  day,  of  a  cup  of 
water,  pork  and  beans  ;  and  so  on  throughout  the 
voyage,  which  occupied  forty  days  and  forty  nights, 
from  shore  to  shore. 

"  On  the  last  day  of  that  voyage,  which  was  fifty 
years  ago,  on  the  4th  of  July  last,  when  I  awoke  I 
beheld  Staten  Island  in  all  its  beauty.  My  first 
thought  was  to  offer  a  fervent  prayer  to  the  Almighty 
God  for  having  brought  me  over  safely  to  what  I  then 
regarded  as   Paradise  itself,  and  my  second  thought 


AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL  7 

was  to  swear  allegiance  to  the  government  of  the 
United  States.  Whether  I  have  been  steadfast  in 
that  allegiance,  it  is  not  for  me  to  say. 

"  At  that  time  the  island  looked  picturesque  and 
charming,  and  the  houses  were  painted  white,  which, 
gentlemen,  must  be  evidence  to  you  that  I  had  never 
visited  the  place,  otherwise  the  Island  would  have 
been  'painted  red,'  to  use  an  expression  with  which, 
no  doubt,  some  of  you  are  not  altogether  unfamiliar. 

"  It  was  on  a  Monday  morning  that  I  landed  at 
Castle  Garden,  and  at  a  time  when  immigrants  were 
in  great  demand.  I  soon  learned  that  the  government 
had  sent  an  official  to  me  for  the  purpose  of  seeing 
whether  my  wooden  box  (Saratoga  trunks  or  Glad- 
stone bags  not  being  fashionable  in  those  days)  con- 
tained anything  that  would  be  subject  to  the  payment 
of  the  duties  provided  in  the  then  McKinley  Tariff 
bill. 

"  After  ransacking  the  contents  of  my  humble  box, 
I  observed  that  the  official  made  a  very  serious  face, 
and,  fearful  that  he  had  discovered  something  that 
would  compel  him  to  retain  it,  I  asked  him  the  cause 
of  his  annoyance.  He  stated  that  he  felt  very  much 
disappointed,  indeed,  in  not  finding  a  dress  suit 
among  the  contents  of  my  wardrobe.  I  told  him  that 
in  my  haste  to  get  to  this  land  of  liberty  and  freedom, 
I  had  overlooked  it. 

"I  then  applied  to  him  to  direct  me  to  a  good  hotel, 
where  I  could  stop  at  the  rate  of  one  dollar  per  week, 
knowing  that  my  means  at  that  time  would  not  allow 
me  to  stop  at  either  the  Windsor  or  the  Fifth  Avenue. 
I  was  too  modest,  however,  to  make  known  this  fact 
to  him,  and  I  assigned  as  a  reason  for  not  seeking 
these  high-priced  hotels  that  I  was  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  my  traveling  letter  of  credit,  which  I  had 
also  forgotten  in  the  hurry  of  my  departure. 


8  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

"He  directed  me  to  a  hotel  in  Division  Street, 
where  the  clerk  at  the  desk,  knowing  that  I  would 
like  to  obtain  a  fine  view  of  the  city,  instructed  the 
hall-boy  to  conduct  me  to  a  room  on  the  top  floor,  or, 
to  be  more  candid  with  you,  to  the  garret,  which  I 
found  I  could  reach  without  being  obliged  to  use  the 
elevator. 

"After  remaining  in  this  city  for  two  weeks,  I  found 
that  my  supply  of  cash  was  diminishing  very  rapidly, 
and  that  I  had  just  sufficient  money  left  to  take  me 
to  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  my  three  older  brothers, 
Joseph,  William  and  James,  were  then  in  a  small 
business.  I  remained  in  Lancaster  a  few  weeks, 
during  which  time  I  learned  the  Englisli  language  to 
some  extent,  and,  at  the  same  time,  mastered  the  sci- 
ence of  smoking  penny  cigars. 

"  My  brothers  consulted  as  to  what  was  the  best 
course  for  our  future  ;  and  as  brother  James,  in  the 
year  1840,  was  a  pioneer  in  the  South,  going  there 
and  remaining  during  that  year,  and  returning  with 
a  net  profit  of  about  $800,  we  concluded  to  take  the 
advice  of  this  purse-proud  Nabob — that  we  would 
better  our  condition  by  removing  to  that  section  of 
the  country. 

"  The  four  of  us  came  on  to  New  York  and  took 
passage  in  a  schooner,  which  took  six  weeks  to  make 
the  trip  to  Mobile.  During  the  voyage  we  encoun- 
tered a  very  severe  storm,  and  at  one  time  e.Kpected 
that  the  schooner  and  all  on  board  would  be  lost — in 
fact,  it  was  reported  that  we  were  lost — but  he  who  is 
born  to  be  hanged  can  never  be  drowned. 

"  On  our  arrival  in  Mobile  we  immediateh-  sought 
out  a  boarding-house  ;  and  as  we  had  been  nearly 
starved  on  our  voyage,  I  need  not  assure  you  that  our 
appetites  were  whetted  to  do  justice  to  our  provender 
wiien  we  reached  the  dining-room.    The  report  quickly 


AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL  9 

Spread  that  four  foreigners  had  arrived,  and  when  we 
retired  for  the  night,  we  were  honored  by  a  serenade, 
the  musical  part  of  which  consisted  chiefly  of  hum- 
ming- sounds,  with  which  our  ears  were  not  at  all 
familiar. 

' '  We  soon  discovered  that  this  beautiful  concerto 
came  from  a  swarm  of  mosquitoes  (any  one  of  which 
would  have  looked  with  scorn  upon  the  Jersey  mos- 
quito) that  hovered  around  our  beds.  Notwithstand- 
ing their  musical  turn  of  mind,  they  were  out  for 
blood,  so  to  speak,  and  it  was  not  until  early  in  the 
morning,  after  they  had  sampled  us  very  freely,  that 
the}^  consented,  much  to  our  relief,  to  take  their 
departure. 

"Our  capital  was  small,  and  would  not  permit  us 
to  open  a  business  in  a  large  city,  such  as  Mobile  was 
at  that  time.  We  therefore  thought  it  advisable  to 
go  to  some  interior  town,  and  Selma  was  selected  as 
the  place  where  we  should  pitch  our  tents.  We  opened 
a  small  store,  and  while  brother  Joseph  remained  in 
charge,  William,  James  and  myself  went  on  a  tour  of 
inspection  of  the  surrounding  country,  to  be  absent 
four  weeks,  at  the  expiration  of  which  time  we  were 
all  to  meet  in  Selma  again,  and  compare  notes. 

"The  traveling  salesmen  of  that  period  did  not 
enjoy  the  luxuries  that  men  of  that  vocation  now 
expect,  and  as  it  was  not  customary  to  have  a  porter 
to  carry  your  grip  or  parcel,  we  were  obliged  to  per- 
form that  task  ourselves.  We  were  so  much  encour- 
aged by  the  result  of  our  first  trip  that  we  concluded 
to  make  another  for  four  weeks,  and  we  found  that 
our  supply  of  merchandise  was  diminishing  very 
rapidly. 

"  Our  capital,  however,  was  increasing  at  such  a 
rate  as  to  enable  us  to  open  more  stores,  which  we  did, 
brother  James  leaving  for  New  York  City  in  order  to 


lO  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

make  purchases  for  the  amount  of  cash  he  had,  and 
"running  his  face"  for  the  rest.  We  opened  stores 
in  Greensboro,  Eutaw  and  Clinton.  At  the  age  of 
fifteen  I  was  the  possessor  of  my  own  store,  and  had 
clerks  in  my  employ. 

"We  continued  to  be  prosperous  until  the  year 
1848,  when  we  thought  that  we  might  better  our 
condition  by  coming  North,  Joseph  Seligman  and 
William  left  early  in  the  spring,  and  brother  Henry) 
who  had  then  come  out  from  Europe,  and  myself 
remained  to  wind  up  the  business.  At  this  point,  I 
desire  to  say  that  I  shall  always  feel  grateful  to  the 
people  of  the  South  for  the  kind  and  cordial  manner 
in  which  they  treated  us  during  our  stay  there. 

"On  reaching  New  York,  in  the  summer  of  1848, 
I  found  that  my  elder  brothers  had  already  established 
an  importing  business.  Brother  Henry  and  myself 
started  a  business  in  the  beautiful  town  of  Watertown, 
Jefferson  County.  Here,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
ladies,  always  partial  to  me,  we  soon  increased  our 
business. 

"  At  Watertown,  I  had  the  pleasure  of  learning  to 
know  and  esteem  the  great  and  illustrious  General 
Grant,  who  was  then  a  lieutenant  at  Sackett's  Harbor. 
On  our  acquaintance  we  immediately  became  friends, 
and  from  that  hour  until  his  death  I  know  of  no  one 
who  was  entitled  to  greater  love  and  respect  from  not 
only  his  own  immediate  friends,  but  from  the  people 
of  the  entire  country. 
j  "In    1850,  when    the  "gold   fever"  broke   out   in 

California,  I  determined  to  leave  the  store  in  the 
hands  of  my  brother  Henry,  so  that  I  might  venture 
out  there  to  ascertain  whether  we  could  not  still 
further  improve  our  condition.  I  took  with  me  quite 
a  large  quantity  of  merchandise,  and  got  it  over  the 
isthmus  as  far  as  Gergona. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL  H 

"  Here  I  found  that  there  were  not  mules  enough 
to  carry  all  of  my  wares  to  Panama  in  time  to  enable 
me  to  reach  the  steamer,  so  I  was  obliged  to  wait  for 
two  weeks,  when  I  boarded  the  Northerner.  There 
were  quite  a  number  of  steerage  passengers,  and  only 
sixteen  cabin  passengers,  many  of  whom  were  stricken 
down  with  the  Panama  fever,  and  before  we  reached 
San  Francisco  eight  of  them  were  buried  at  sea. 

"  My  brother  Leopold,  who  accompanied  me  on  this 
trip,  was  also  stricken  with  the  disease,  but,  fortu- 
nately, before  we  reached  Acapulco,  it  turned  into 
chills  and  fever,  which  was  the  means  of  saving  his 
life. 

"Arriving  in  San  Francisco  in  the  fall  of  1850,  I 
landed  near  Sansome  and  California  Streets,  the  bay 
reaching  as  far  as  that  in  those  days. 

"  I  at  once  searched  for  a  store  for  the  purpose  of 
offering  my  merchandise,  and  the  only  one  that  there 
was  the  slightest  prospect  of  securing  was  on  Com- 
mercial Street.  After  being  there  for  only  a  short 
time,  I  found  that  very  high  winds  prevailed  at  times 
throughout  the  city,  and  knowing  that  there  was  a 
scarcity  of  water,  and  that  the  houses  were  frame 
structures  (with  the  exception  of  a  few  that  were  built 
of  iron),  I  saw  that  there  was  great  danger  of  a  con- 
flagration. 

Learning  of  a  brick  building  that  was  in  course  of 
erection  by  Messrs.  Hassler,  Bains  &  Co.,  in  California 
Street,  I  at  once  applied  for  one-half  of  it  when  it  was 
ready  for  occupancy.  It  was  the  only  brick  building 
in  the  city  of  San  Francisco  at  that  time. 

' '  After  being  there  a  short  time,  a  fire  broke  out 
on  the  3d  of  May,  on  what  was  known  as  the  '  Plaza.' 
I  at  once  went  there  to  assist  some  friends  in  removing 
their  merchandise,  but  soon  found  that  it  had  gained 
such  headway  that  it  would  probably  sweep  the  entire 


12  JESSE    SELIGMAN 

city.  I  immediately  returned  to  my  own  building, 
and  found  that  the  Damaha  Hotel,  a  building  adjoin- 
ing the  one  I  occupied,  and  kept  by  Captain  Jones, 
was  guarded  by  a  number  of  his  waiters,  who  were 
covering  the  roof  with  wet  blankets,  and  who  also 
stood  in  readiness  with  buckets  of  water. 

*'  I  at  once  explained  to  Captain  Jones  that  if  my 
house  were  to  take  fire,  nothing  could  save  his  hotel 
from  destruction,  as  it  was  built  of  wood,  and  I  sug- 
gested that  he  transfer  a  number  of  his  men  to  my 
roof,  so  that,  in  the  event  of  my  success  in  fighting 
the  fire,  his  hotel  would  also  be  secure.  He  acted 
upon  my  suggestion  ;  and  it  was  well  that  he  did  so, 
for  the  Custom-house,  on  the  corner  of  Montgomery 
and  California  Streets,  took  fire,  and  swept  everything 
before  it,  with  the  exception  of  the  building  that  I 
occupied  and  Captain  Jones's  hotel. 

"Howard  Fire  Company,  No.  3,  did  me  great  ser- 
vice during  the  fire,  and  I  joined  the  company  that 
night,  serving  and  running  with  the  machine  for 
several  years,  so  that  I  am  now  an  honorably  exempt 
fireman.  Of  all  the  dealers  in  merchandise,  I  was  the 
only  one  whose  hous(^  was  saved,  and  as  I  had  many 
articles  that  were  needed  at  that  time,  I  soon  disposed 
of  much  of  my  stock,  though  I  made  no  attempt  to 
increase  or  reduce  my  prices. 

"  Shortly  thereafter,  the  affairs  of  the  city  became 
so  disorganized  that  it  was  unsafe  for  anv  one  to  walk 
in  the  streets  without  being  well  armed,  for  there  was 
no  telling  at  what  moment  one  would  be  attacked  by 
the  thieves,  thugs  and  desperate  characters  that  had 
overrun  the  city.  It  was,  therefore,  found  necessary 
to  organize  a  Vigilance  Committee  to  suppress  this 
lawlessness  and  rid  the  town  of  bad  characters.  I 
became  a  member  of  the  committee,  and  remained  so 
until  perfect  order  was  restored. 


AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL  I3 

"  In  1841,  I  paid  a  short  visit  to  this  city,  as  also  to 
Europe,  where  I  visited  my  relatives.  During  my 
stay  in  Munich,  I  became  engaged  to  my  present 
wife,  who  has  at  all  times  been  my  faithful  companion 
and  good  adviser. 

"Upon  my  return  to  San  Francisco,  the  famous 
Committee  of  Twenty-one  was  formed,  with  the  object 
of  nominating  and  electing  such  candidates  as  would 
give  clean  and  honest  government  in  both  the  muni- 
cipal and  State  offices.  I  had  the  honor  of  being 
one  of  the  members  of  that  committee — a  fact  which 
I  have  never  had  cause  to  regret,  for  in  the  fall  of 
1857  I  had  engaged  passage  for  myself  and  my  family 
to  come  on  East,  but  the  committee  insisted  upon 
remaining  until  the  ticket  was  elected.  This  I  finally 
decided  to  do,  a  decision  which  in  all  probability 
saved  my  life  and  the  lives  of  my  family,  for  tlie 
Central  America,  which  was  the  ship  upon  which  I 
had  engaged  passage,  went  down  at  sea.  and  many  of 
her  passengers  were  lost.  So  much  for  serving  one's 
country. 

"  In  concluding  this  narrative  of  my  career  in  Cali- 
fornia, I  will  say  that  I  look  upon  that  State  as  still 
offering  great  opportunities  to  the  youth  of  our  land, 
and,  with  her  rich  soil,  salubrious  climate  and  ener- 
getic people,  she  is  fast  becoming  a  dangerous  rival  to 
some  of  the  older  States  of  the  Union. 

"  Arriving  in  New  York  in  the  fall  of  1857,  during 
the  great  panic,  I  attended  to  my  California  business, 
which  was  continued  for  some  years  after  my  departure 
from  San  Francisco.  We  found  that  our  capital  could 
not  be  invested  to  advantage  in  dealing  in  merchan- 
dise, and,  therefore,  my  senior  brother,  the  late 
Joseph  Seligman,  upon  whom  we  looked  more  as  a 
father  than  as  a  brother,  and  whose  advice  and  judg- 
ment were  cheerfully  accepted  by  us,  went  to  Europe 


14  JESSE   SEUGMAN 

for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  banking-house  there, 
and  also  with  the  object  of  placing  the  United  States 
bonds  on  the  Frankfort  Bourse.  He  was  successful  in 
enlisting  the  sympathy  and  support  of  the  capitalists 
of  Germany  in  behalf  of  our  Government,  at  a  time 
when  such  sympathy  and  support  were  necessary  to 
sustain  its  credit,  and  the  result  has  proven  that  it  was 
not  without  profit  to  the  investors,  for  United  States 
six  per  cent,  bonds  were  sold  in  Frankfort  as  low  as 
thirty-nine  in  gold. 

"Since  then  we  have  been  identified  with  every 
syndicate  that  has  placed  the  United  States  bonds, 
and,  more  particularly,  with  the  issue  of  four  per  cent. 
bonds,  which  were  floated  when  John  Sherman  was 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  These  negotiations  have 
had  the  effect  of  establishing  the  credit  of  our  Gov- 
ernment, and  to-day  it  stands  higher  than  that  of  any 
government  in  the  world,  for  we  have  been  able  to 
extend  our  four-and-a-half-per-cent.  bonds  at  the  rate 
of  two  per  cent. 

"  In  1864,  other  houses  were  established  in  Europe — 
the  London  house,  Messrs.  Seligman  Brothers,  which 
was  headed  by  Isaac  Seligman ;  the  Paris  house, 
Messrs.  Seligman,  Freres  et  cie,  headed  by  Wil- 
liam Seligman  ;  the  Frankfort  House,  Messrs.  Selig- 
man &  Stettheimer,  the  head  of  which  is  Henry 
Seligman  ;  and  later  houses  were  established  in  Berlin, 
Amsterdam,  New  Orleans  and  San  Francisco. 

"It  is  useless  for  me  to  tell  you  that  during  these 
many  years  great  temptations  have  beset  us,  and  that 
we  have  had  to  encounter  many  financial  storms  ;  but* 
thanks  be  to  God,  He  has  guided  us  through  all  these 
difficulties,  and  no  matter  in  what  position  we  have 
been  placed  from  time  to  time,  we  have  always  striven 
to  retain  our  honor  and  good  name. 

"  Now,  only  a  few  words  more  about  myself.     My 


AUTOBIOGRAPICAL  I5 

success,  whatever  it  has  been,  gentlemen,  I  attribute, 
first,  to  the  fact  that  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  become 
a  citizen  of  this  great  Republic,  under  whose  benefi- 
cent laws  the  poor  and  the  rich,  irrespective  of  race 
or  creed,  have  equal  opportunities  of  education  and 
material  prosperity  ;  secondly,  to  the  fact  that  I  have 
always  endeavored  to  extract  something  good  rather 
than  evil  from  everything  that  has  come  before  me 
(which  has  had  the  effect  of  making  lighter  the  cares 
and  tribulations  of  this  life) ;  in  the  next  place,  to  the 
great  assistance  of  my  good  brothers,  to  the  compan- 
ionship and  advice  of  a  loving  wife  and  children,  and, 
above  all,  to  a  kind  and  merciful  God. 

"  Mr.  Chairman,  you  were  good  enough  to  couple 
my  name  with  that  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum. 
It  is  true  that  I  have  taken  a  great  interest  in  that 
noble  institution,  and  it  is  an  institution  of  which  we 
may  all  be  proud.  It  was  established  in  1859,  and  I 
have  been  connected  with  it  since  its  very  infancy. 
When  we  started,  we  had  fourteen  children  and  a 
capital  of  $10,000. 

''Now  our  best  wealth  consists  of  600  beautiful, 
healthy  and  intelligent  children,  not  one  of  whom  is 
suffering  from  any  kind  of  sickness,  and  who  occupy 
a  home  that  is  provided  with  everything  to  make 
them  happy  and  comfortable. 

"This  is  due  to  a  kind  Providence,  and,  next  to 
that,  to  the  supervision  and  care  of  Dr.  Baar  and  his 
amiable  wife,  whose  devotion  and  zeal  in  providing 
for  the  wants  of  these  children  are  truly  remarkable. 

"  I  would  be  derelict  in  my  duty  here  to-night  if  I 
allowed  this  occasion  to  pass  without  saying  that  the 
success  of  the  Asylum  has  also  been  due  to  our  Board 
of  Directors  and  to  our  Ladies'  Sewing  Society,  who 
have  performed  their  labors  with  ardor,  and  who  watch 
with  jealous  care  the  interests  confided  to  them. 


l6  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

"  You  have  now  seen  me  as  an  actor  playing 
several  parts  on  the  stage  of  life — first  as  a  shopkeeper, 
afterward  as  a  fireman,  then  as  a  vigilante,  next  as  a 
banker,  and  last,  as  a  philanthropist,  which  was  the 
character  your  chairman  so  kindly  assigned  to  me. 
Although  I  have  not  been  unsuccessful  in  these  differ- 
ent characters,  yet  I  shall  have  to  pronounce  myself 
a  bankrupt  to-night,  for  I  shall  never  be  able  to  repay 
you  gentlemen  for  this  tribute  that  I  am  receiving  at 
your  hands." 


Tributes. 


TRIBUTES  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  JESSE 

SELIGMAN. 
Received  by  The  American  Hebrew. 


From  Baron  Maurice  de  Hirsch. 

[By  Cable.] 

Paris,  May  i,  1894. 

Seligraan's  memory  will  be  cherished  for  his  generosity  and 
large-heartedness.     A  man  could  wish  no  higher  praise. 

BARON  HIRSCH. 


From  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  Pre  side  tit  of  the  Montefiore  Home  for 

Chrom'e  Invalids. 

[By  Cable.] 
Frankfurt,  Germany,  April  29,  1894. 
Jesse  Seligraan's  warm  attachment  to  his  race,  his  generous 
public  spirit  and  lofty  patriotism,  united  with  smgular  ability 
to  deal  with  every  situation,  all  made  him  the  most  worthy 
Hebrew  American  of  this  generation. 

JACOB  H.  SCHIFF. 

From  Hon.  T.  L.  James,  Ex-Postjnas1er  General,  Pres. 
Lincoln  National  Bank. 

I  received  the  news  of  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  with 
the  shock  which  comes  only  with  the  announcement  of  the 
sudden  loss  of  an  old  and  valued  friend.  My  acquaintance 
with  him  commenced  way  back  in  the  sixties;  and  I  early 
learned  to  value  his  sturdy  honesty,  his  integrity,  untiring 
industry,  and  his  genial,  warm-hearted  friendship.  Moreover, 
I  was  impressed,  in  those  dark  days  when  I  first  knew  him, 
with  his  sterling  patriotism  ;  he  being  one  of  those  men  of 
foreign  birth  who  seemed  to  go  beyond  those  of  us  of  native 
birth,  in  the  all-consuming  zeal  and  devotion  for  our  common 
flag.  1  think  that  is  what  first  particularly  attracted  me 
towards  Mr.  Seligman ;  and  I  soon  found  that  he  really  did 


\     .o 


JESSE  SELIGMAN 


understand  more  fully  and  completely,  perhaps,  than  many  ot 
us  did,  what  the  War  meant  and  what  the  result  would  be. 
He  was  one  of  those  men,  too,  who,  when  some  were  anxious, 
speaking  hesitatingly  about  the  outcome,  gave  by  his  coura- 
geous faith  and  heroic  example,  a  grand  impulse  which  we 
afterwards  saw  the  results  of  in  that  mipressive  tender  by  the 
financiers  of  New  York  of  their  credit  and  their  gold  to  the 
government  in  its  extremity. 

He  had  undying  faith  in  General  Grant,  too.  in  those  dark 
hours.  He  was  one  of  the  few  men  in  New  York  who  knew 
him  personally,  and  he  never  wavered  in  his  confidence  in  the 
great  commander's  ability  to  carry  the  War  through  to  a 
successful  issue.  Later  on,  we  learned  the  grounds  of  his 
faith  ;  for  he  was  probably  the  oldest  acquaintance  of  (jrant 
in  New  York  having  become  acquainted  vvith  him  while  a 
merchant  in  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  where  Grant  was  then  sta- 
tioned as  a  Second  Lieutenant ;  and  he  had  afterwards 
renewed  the  friendship,  when  General  Grant  was  sent  as 
First  Lieutenant  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  where  he  found  his 
old  friend  Seligman  one  of  the  argonauts  of  California. 

It  was  given  to  me,  in  an  especially  affecting  and  touching 
manner,  to  see  some  of  those  traits  in  Mr.  Seligman 's  inner 
life  and  his  family  surroundings,  which  made  his  home  one  of 
the  most  delightful  in  New  York,  and  gave  to  him  unusual 
charms  in  friendly  and  social  intercourse.  I  saw  those  quah- 
ties  displayed  in  that  sad,  sad  summer  of  1881,  when  General 
Garfield,  stricken  with  an  assassin's  bullet,  lay  on  his  deathbed 
in  a  cottage  at  Elberon.  Mr.  Seligman's  summer  home  was 
at  Long  Branch  ;  and,  with  that  thoughtful  consideration  and 
tenderness  which  distinguished  the  man,  he  showed  the 
official  family  of  the  dying  President,  courtesies  and  kindness 
that  were  very  grateful  and  which  can  never  be  forgotten.  A 
more  pleasant  family  circle  than  Mr.  Seligman's  I  never  met ; 
and  I  will  never  cease  to  remember  the  charm  of  that  fireside. 
There,  perhaps,  Mr.  Seligman  was  really  seen  in  the  highest 
display  of  the  beautiful  qualities  of  head  and  heart  that  made 
him  not  only  foremost  as  a  great  financier,  but  as  a  faithful 
friend. 

It  was  a  great  consolation  to  Mr.  Seligman  to  know  that 


TRIBUTES  21 

the  most  cruel  wound  that  he  probably  ever  received  was 
delivered  to  him,  not  through  the  faithlessnes  of  any  friend  ; 
but  that  his  great  army  of  friends  were  almost  as  deeply 
touched  by  that  unfortunate  occurence  as  he  was  himself.  It 
came  at  the  hands  of  a  few  thoughtless  persons,  who  doubt- 
less regretted  it  when  they  came  to  consider  carefully  the 
entire  case.  Certainly,  at  that  trying  moment,  Mr.  Seligman 
discovered  that  he  was  to  that  company  of  men  of  affairs  m 
New  York  whom  he  held  in  close  bonds  of  friendship,  after 
that  event,  dearer  than  ever. 

Of  course,  I  do  not  need  to  speak  of  his  genius  as  a  finan- 
cier. His  name  and  fame  in  that  particular  are  secure;  and 
his  achievements  will  become  traditions  in  the  history  of  those 
influences  which  have  made  this  country  the  great  financial 
power  among  the  nations  of  the  earth. 

His  death  removes  a  foremost  figure  in  our  national  and 
business  life ;  and  we  shall  long  look  for  one  to  take  the  place 
of  this  man,  who,  by  his  genius  as  a  financier,  his  broad  liberal 
charity,  and  his  loving  kindness  towards  suffering  humanity, 
will  long  be  remembered  ;  for  \h.  Seligman's  life  and  work 
have  made  him  one  of  the  benefactors  of  mankind. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

THOMAS  L.  JAMES. 


From  Ex-Judge  Noah  Davis 

By  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  our  country  loses  a  loving 
and  faithful  citizen  and  friend.  He  loved  America,  though 
not  his  native  land,  with  all  the  ardor  of  a  native,  enhanced 
by  a  keen  and  tender  sense  of  gratitude  for  what  it  had  done 
for  his  race,  and  for  him  and  his  brothers  ever  since  they 
became  its  adopted  sons. 

I  have  never  met  any  foreign- born  American  citizen  more 
prompt  to  express  warmly  and  gratefully  this  sentiment ;  and 
yet  it  will  be  rare  to  find  one  who  has  so  amply  and  generously 
repaid  it.  His  gratitude  was  not  confined  to  words.  His 
deeds  preceded  his  words ;  and  if  it  had  ever  been  necessary 
he  would  have  staked  his  whole  fortune,  and  his  life  as  well, 
for  our  country  and  its  institutions. 


22  JESSK  SELIGMAN 

I  recall  an  occasion  when  he  and  I  left  the  Union  League 
Club  together,  at  a  late  hour  one  evening,  and  walked  arm- 
in-arm  up  the  avenue  toward  our  homes.  I  listened  as  he 
gave  me  some  happy  reminiscences  of  his  busy  life.  When 
we  reached  his  street,  I  stopped  to  part  with  him.  "  No," 
said  he,  '•  I  will  walk  further  with  you,"  and  he  kept  on  till 
we  reached  my  home  on  Fifty-sixth  Ftreet.  "Now"  I  said, 
"  it  is  my  turn  to  walk  with  you,  sir,"  and  we  walked  slowly 
back  to  his  own  street,  where  we  compromised  by  his  walking 
half-way  back  with  me.  In  that  delightful  walk  he  developed 
to  me  his  loving  nature  toward  our  country,  its  government 
and  its  people.  I  was  chiefly  a  listener,  but  a  deeply  inter- 
ested and  pleased  one,  for  I  could  see  and  feel  that  a  pure- 
hearted  and  patriotic  man  was  speaking  from  the  inmost 
bosom  of  a  noble  and  tender  nature. 

A  few  days  before  General  Grant  sailed  on  his  tour  around 
the  world,  the  brothers  Seligman  gave  him  a  farewell  dinner 
at  Delmonico's.  There  were  forty  or  fifty  people  present. 
General  Grant  was  then  fully  relieved  from  all  public  cares, 
and  felt  that  the  honors  shown  him  on  that  occasion  were  the 
tribute  of  pure  and  disinterested  esteem  and  affection.  He 
talked  with  me,  as  I  sat  near  hmi,  of  the  services  his  hosts 
had  rendered  the  country  u  ling  the  war,  and  to  himself  dur- 
ing his  administration,  with  a  warm  sense  of  what  was  due  to 
their  genuine  patriotism.  It  happened  afterwards,  and  after 
his  return  frcm  his  Eastern  tour,  that  I  met  with  General 
Grant  in  Paris.  He  spoke  on  that  occasion  of  that  dinner 
and  his  great  enjoyment  of  the  evening,  and  gave  a  warm 
expression  of  his  esteem  for  the  Seligmans  and  for  their 
services  to  the  country  and  himself 

It  was  a  merited  tribute  of  a  noble  man  to  worthy  citizens 
and  friends,  and  I  am  glad  to  lay  it  now  where  General  Grant 
would  have  proudly  placed  it — on  the  bier  of  Jesse  Seligman, 
his  devoted  friend. 

I  was  standing  by  the  side  of  Mr.  Seligman  at  the  Union 
League  Club  at  the  crucial  moment  of  his  paternal  agony. 
Many  friends  were  gathered  around  him.  whose  eyes  answered 
to  the  tears  that  for  a  little  wet  his  cheeks  :  but  he  soon  con- 
quered himself,  and  vindicated  his  dignity  by  a  few  words  too 


TRIBUTES  23 

tender  to  be  repeated.     That  weight,  however,  never  seemed 

to  be  Hfted  from  his  heart. 

With  all  his  skill,  abilitv  and  success  in  business,  with  all 

his  love  for   his   country,   his   devotion  to   order   and   good 

government,  his   deep  and  tender  attachment  to  his  family 

and  friends,  I  think  his  chief  virtue  was  charity,  and  that 

most  comprehensive   and  beautiful  word   should  be  inscribed 

on  his  tomb. 

NOAH  DAVIS. 


From  Mr.  Henry  Rice,  President   Uiiited  Hebrew    Charities. 

Conscious  that  my  limited  power  of  expression  would  be 
inadequate  to  the  great  significance  of  the  occasion  I  will  only 
say,  that  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  not  only  loses,  in  the 
death  of  Jesse  Seligman  one  of  its  beloved  founders  and  firm 
supporters,  but  the  world  parts  from  one  of  its  ablest  pro- 
tectors. 

His  serene,  cheerful  and  ever  hopeful  temperament  was 
constitutional  with  him,  and  none  like  Jesse  Seligman  spoke 
and  acted  for  the  poor  Russian  exiles,  driven  from  their 
native  soil  for  religion's  (?)  sake  under  many  trying  circum- 
stances. 

His  was  also  a  deep  rehgious  nature,  but  revolted  against 
legendary  and  ceremonial  usages  that  had  outgrown  their 
valid  use,  under  more  liberal  views.  His  loyalty  to  his 
adopted  country  was  of  the  Puritan  type:  staunch  and  immov- 
able. He  lived  and  labored  for  his  fellow-men.  The  world 
was  his  country,  — to  do  good,  his  religion.  A  noble  human 
life  has  ended,  and  the  world  is  largely  a  loser. 

Very  truly, 

HENRY  RICE. 


From  Henry  G.  Marquand,  Esq.,  President  Metropolitan 

Museum  of  Art. 

New  York,  April  27th,  1894. 
I  was  not  brought  in  contact  with  the  late  Jesse  Seligman 
as  often  as   many  others,  but  during  twenty  years  or  more  I 
saw  enough  of  him  to  form  a  very  high  opinion  of  his  worth 


24  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

as  a  citizen  of  this  Republic.  His  views  were  always  of  the- 
broad  and  generous  stamp.  They  were  not  confined  to  the 
various  schemes  of  philanthropy,  but  extended  to  enterprises 
relating  to  high  culture  at  home  and  abroad,  and  by  contact 
with  him  it  was  easy  to  see  how  quickly  his  sympathies  were 
aroused  in  favor  of  everything  good.  J  am  sure  no  one  could 
ever  charge  him  with  a  mean  or  low-toned  act.  Only  a  few 
hours  before  he  left  to  go  on  his  trip  to  improve  his  health,  I 
heard  him  speak  in  severest  terms  about  the  character  of  a 
person  who  had  done  some  unjust  act.  It  is  refreshmg  to 
say  that  though  he  was  successful  in  acquiring  riches,  he  was 
not  a  worshiper  of  money,  but  used  it  freely  for  good  purposes. 
I  shall  always  cherish  this  memory  of  him. 

Very  sincerely  yours, 

HENRY  G.  MARQUAND. 


Front  Mr.  Jas.  H.  Hoffman,  President  of  the  Hebrew  Technical 

Institute. 

Gladly  would  I  avail  myself  of  your  invitation  to  say  a  few 
words  in  reminiscence  of  my  revered  friend,  the  late  Jesse 
Seligman,  but  I  find  it  difficult  to  compress  into  a  necessarily 
limited  space  that  of  which  the  heart  is  full  to  overflowing. 
It  has  been  my  privilege  to  serve  with  and  under  him  in  the 
Boards  of  the  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Hebrew  Technical  insti- 
tute and  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund,  and  if  there  was  one 
feeling  predominant  that  he  inspired  me  with  in  all  these 
relations,  it  was  that  of  a  love  akin  to  reverence  for  the 
beautiful  traits  of  character  he  displayed  on  all  occasions. 
Often  he  reminded  me  of  Goethe's  saying,  ''Das  Leben  eines 
Menschen  ist  sein  character  "  (Man's  life  is  his  character),  and 
his  was  an  all-around  development  of  a  wise,  genial  and 
sincere  man.  Meeting  him  regularly  Friday  evenings  in  our 
Temple.  I  had  occasion  to  become  impressed  with  the  fervor 
of  his  devotion  and  attachment  to  the  sacred  faith  of  our 
fathers.  In  him  was  manifested  that  spirit  of  Ehrfurcht 
(reverence)  for  what  is  above,  around  and  beneath  us,  which 
the  master  I  have  cited  declared  to  be  the  essence  of  all 
religion,   whether  while   acting   as   presiding   officer,  or  while 


TRIBUTES  25 

in  the  ranks  of  his  associates,  or  Hstening  to  the  tale  of  sorrow 
and  woe  of  a  poor  widow  asking  to  have  her  fatherless  child 
admitted  to  the  Asylum.  An  evidence  of  the  fruit  his  lif^ 
has  borne  will  be  exhibited  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Orphan  Asylum  about  to  be  held,  consisting  of  specimens  of 
the  handicraft  of  wards  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  who  are  pre- 
sent pupils  of  the  Hebrew  Technical  Institute,  such  as  elec- 
trical and  other  scientific  instruments  of  the  greatest  delicacy, 
and  of  workmanship  in  metal  shaping,  drilling,  machine  fit- 
ting, also  in  joinery  and  wood  carving,  architectural  and 
machine  drawing,  and  others.  To  his  generous  aid  in  the 
incipiency  of  this  movement,  and  his  constant  encouragement 
and  words  of  cheer  when  others  began  to  falter  and  doubt, 
because  of  obstacles  that  arose  at  times,  the  assured  success 
and  promise  of  growing  usefulness  in  the  social  redemption  of 
the  poor  of  our  race  is  largely  due.  Who  knows  but  that  in 
after  times  this  may  be  the  corner-stone  of  the  monument  he 
has  erected  to  himself,  as  an  incentive  for  emulation  and  a 
blessing  to  future  generations. 

Faithfully  yours, 

JAS.   H.  HOFFMAN. 


From   Mr.    John  A.   Stewart.  President  of  the  United  States 

Trust  Co. 

Jesse  Seligman  I  knew  somewhat  intimately  for  thirty  years> 
and  considered  it  a  high  privilege  to  enjoy  his  confidence.  In 
all  the  relations  of  life,  whether  as  a  public-spirited  citizen, 
appreciating  its  privileges  and  bearing  its  responsibilities,  or 
as  an  eminently  successful  business  man,  he  readily  com- 
manded the  respect  of  those  with  whom  he  was  brought  in 
contact.  His  judgment,  always  sound  upon  financial  ques- 
tions, was  frequently  sought  by  those  in  official  position.  To 
my  mind,  his  most  striking  characteristic,  and  one  which 
rarely  accompanies  such  decided  convictions  as  he  held  upon 
most  questions,  was  his  marked  fairness  to  those  who  enter- 
tained opposite  views.  During  all  our  long  and  frequent 
intercourses,  I  never  heard  Mr.  Seligman  utter  a  mean  or 
unkind  remark  of  any  one.     His   personal  friends  were  not 


26  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

limited  to  members  of  liis  own  faith,  but  appeared  to  me  to 

be  equally  numerous   among  those  of  other  creeds,  and  his 

benefactions    were    never   limited    by   race  or  nation.     The 

death  of  such  a  man  is  a  great  loss  to  the  community  and  the 

country. 

JOHN  A.  STEWART. 


From   ^Ir.    Edw.vrd    Lautekkach,    Director   Hebreiu    Orphan 

A  syiiivi. 

If  it  were  vouchsafed  to  any  man  to  make  adequate  record 
of  the  greatness  of  the  life  of  Jesse  Seligman.  a  hero  would 
be  depicted  for  whom  hardly  a  peer  could  be  found  m  all  the 
proud  annals  of  the  many  famous  Israelites  whose  names 
decorate  the  pages  of  history. 

I  am  not  able  to  do  justice  to  the  subject.  The  proper 
portrayal  of  such  a  character,  pre-eminent  in  everything  that 
he  undertook,  would  require  the  pen  of  a  genius. 

Possessed  of  the  soundest  business  sense  and  judgment,  of 
courage,  dash  and  unequalled  enterprise,  conceiving  schemes 
of  boundless  importance  and  successfully  accomplishing  them, 
surmounting  diflficulties  appaUing  to  the  ordinary  mind,  he 
was  equal  as  a  man  of  enterprise  to  the  strongest  of  the  few 
marvelous  men.  adepts  in  finance,  fertile  in  resource  and  in 
corporate  management  that  this  age  has  produced. 

But  those  who  rank  with  him  in  these  attributes  of  mind 
and  brain  were  outranked  by  him  in  attributes  of  heart  seldom 
possessed  and  never  equalled  by  the  other  great  masters  of 
this  century. 

On  the  contrary,  with  others  the  greater  the  achievement 
the  less  the  deserved  commendation ;  with  him  the  more 
marvelous  the  result,  the  more  general  the  acclaim,  for  while 
the  methods  of  others  might  be  the  subject  of  criticism,  his 
ways,  direct,  open,  disingenuous  and  sincere,  were  always 
commendable.  With  others  the  only  test  of  merit  was  suc- 
cess; with  him  success  was  meritorious  only  when  the  means 
of  achieving  it  were  as  worthy  as  the  result  to  be  achieved. 

To  have  been  successful  in  these  affairs  would  of  itself  have 
been  all  that  could  reasonably  be  expected  from  the  life-work 


TRIBUTES  27 

of  any  single  man,  but  these  were  the  least  of  his  accom- 
plishments. 

Israel  has  always  been  a  leader  in  great  charitable  enter- 
prises. He  assumed  the  leadership  in  Israel,  and  at  once 
raised  the  grade  of  achievement  in  respect  of  eleemosynary 
work  far  beyond  the  wildest  dreams  of  philanthropists  of 
earlier  times. 

As  the  head  of  the  Orphan  Asylum,  he  frowned  down  per- 
functory performance  of  duty,  and  exhibited  a  steady,  uninter- 
mittent  sacrifice  of  time,  energy  and  influence  that,  employed 
for  his  own  personal  advantage  or  for  his  own  selfish  ends, 
would  have  secured  additional  triumphs  to  those  he  so 
abundantly  achieved  in  his  business  enterprises. 

The  contagious  example  of  his  sacrifice  in  tlie  interest  of 
that  institution,  and  the  many  affiliated  charitable  organiza- 
tions which  grew  from  that  same  root,  such  as  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  the  Hebrew  Technical  Institute,  the 
various  Emergency  Funds,  and  the  host  of  other  similar 
charitable  enterprises  that  had  their  origin  in  the  Hebrew 
Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum  Society,  established  a 
standard  for  those  in  kindred  associations,  the  Hospitals,  the 
Home  lor  Aged  and  the  Home  for  Chronic  Invalids,  and  the 
rest,  that  have  made  the  name  of  Jewish  charitable  societies 
the  synonym  of  excellence. 

Turn  from  these  aspects  of  his  career  and  regard  him  as  a 
citizen !  Again  what  a  marvel !  Only  recently  an  adopted 
citizen,  and  yet  we  find  him  in  1847  at  ihe  head  of  the  Law 
and  Order  Society,  the  Vigilance  Committee  of  San  Francisco. 
Chafing  under  the  restraints  of  mercantile  pursuits,  he  co- 
operated with  that  other  great  master  mind,  his  brother 
Joseph,  in  the  establishment  of  banking  houses  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic ;  they  and  their  brothers  upheld  the  arms  of 
the  great  national  government,  gave  strength  to  its  depleted 
body,  sustained  its  credit  in  the  hour  of  despondency  and 
gloom  at  the  critical  period  when  the  rest  of  the  world's  finan- 
ciers  were  chary  in  their  assistance  and  niggardly  in  their 
aid. 

From  the  auspicious  moment  when  J  and  W.  Seligman  & 
Co.    and   its    affiliated  houses  abroad   tendered   aid   to   the 


28  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

government,  its  jeopardy  ceaced,  and  from  thai  time  to  this 
that  house  and  its  members  have  been  distinguished  by 
loyalty,  self-sacrifice  and  devotion  to  their  country's  in- 
terests. 

The  founder  of  great  railroad  systems,  the  ally  of  Montefiore, 
the  steward  of  the  benefactions  of  Baron  de  Hirsch,  while 
dispensing  his  own  bounties  munificently,  the  champion  of  the 
down-trodden  and  oppressed  of  his  race  in  every  quarter  of 
the  globe,  eminent  in  every  walk  of  life,  he  was  still  as  simple 
as  a  child,  approachable,  kindly,  courteous  and  forgiving. 

An  -'uncrowned  king"  he  was,  better  pleased  to  distribute 
among  his  fellows  the  jewels  of  the  diadem  that  the  world 
would  have  pressed  upon  his  brow,  than  himself  to  submit  to 
a  deserved  adornment.  We  adore  the  man,  we  reverence 
his  memory. 

I  write  thus  warmly,  for  it  has  been  my  proud  lot  for  twenty 
years  to  have  been  associated  with  him  in  business  matters, 
in  charitable  undertakings,  in  the  pursuit  of  political  policies, 
and  I  know  whereof  and  of  whom  I  write. 

I  had  the  priceless  boon  of  his  friendship,  and  esteem  it  as 
one  of  the  most  priceless  possessions  of  which  I  can  boast. 

You  ask  for  reminiscences,  probably  referring  to  some 
individual  incidents  in  his  career,  but  that  whole  career  has 
been  so  marked  with  a  succession  of  incidents  one  more 
remarkable  than  the  other  in  their  evidence  of  his  honesty, 
candor,  self- sacrifice  and  disinterestedness,  that  it  would  be 
invidious  to  remark  any  one  as  more  typical  of  his  life  than 
any  other. 

Very  truly  yours, 

EDW.  LAUTERBACH. 


Fro7n  Ex-M.\voK  Hewitt. 
I  am  very  grateful  to  you  for  the  opportunity  of  giving 
expression  to  the  profound  regret  which,  in  common  with  all 
good  citizens,  I  feel  for  the  loss  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman, 
whose  admirable  character  has  earned  for  him  the  love  and 
respect  of  his  friends  and  of  the  public,  whom  he  was  always 
ready  to  serve  with  his  labor  and  the  means  which  he  had 


TRIBUTES  29 

acquired  through  industry,  integrity  and  a  very  high  order  of 
abihty.     I  do  not  remember  a  more  interesting  occasion  than 
the  dinner  which  was  tendered  to  him   by  his  friends  and 
admirers  prior  to  his  departure  for  Europe  about  two  years 
ago.     Mr.  Sehgmaa's  address  on  that  occasion  was  a  model 
of  simpUcity  and  natural  eloquence.     The  story  of  his  life  as 
told  by  himself  should  be  reproduced  in  your  paper  as  the 
very  best  commentary  upon  his  career,  and  as  an  encourage- 
ment to  all  young  men  who  are  starting  out  upon  the  journey 
of  life.     His  family  have  reason  to  feel  very  proud  of  a  man 
who,  in  the  face  of  his  prosperity  and  success,  never  forgot  the 
humble  beginnings  from  which  he  worked  his  way  on  to  for- 
tune and  to  an  eminent  position  in  the  hearts  of  his  fellow- 
citizens.     Perhaps  the  most  admirable  trait  in  his  character 
was  his  catholic  charity  for  the  opinions  of  others,  and  his 
willingness  to  co-operate  in   every  good  movement  without 
regard  to  creed  or  race. 

Yours  respectfully, 

ABRAM  S    HEWITT. 


From  Mr.  Lyman  G.  Bloomingd.-vle,  Director  of  the  Afontefiore 

Home. 
*  *  * 

He  leaves  behind  him  the  example  of  his  life  as  a  legacy  to 
his  race. 

Let  his  name  be  revered  and  his  memory  blessed. 

LYMAN  G.  BLOOMINGDALE. 


From   Mrs.  M.  D.  Louis,    Preside  fit  of  the  Louis  Down-Town 
Daily  and  Sabbath  School. 

Though  it  was  never  my  good  fortune  to  have  been  in  any 
way  associated  with  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  yet,  when  a  worthy, 
valuable  citizen  dies  it  is  a  sad  but  choice  privilege  to  join 
in  the  threnody  that  sorrowing  souls  intone. 

Great  deeds,  like  swollen  streams,  occur  occasionally  in  a 
life,  and  when  the  effort  is  expended  the  life  lapses  into 
almost  inertia  till  irresistible  force  pushes  it  on  again ;  it  is  the 
calm,  even  current  that  assures  reliance,  the  quiet,  even  tenor 


30  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

that  presages  steady,  safe  progress.     One  is  reminded  of  this 
when  recalling  the  character  of  the  departed. 

Visiting  at  the  Orphan  Asylum  one  day  in  midsummer, 
when  most  of  its  officers  were  spending  their  leisure  in  country 
retreats,  I  heard  from  Dr.  Baar,  with  mingled  surprise  and 
admiration,  that  the  honored  President  of  the  institution  made 
the  Asylum  his  customary  retreat,  bringmg  himself  in  actual 
bodily  touch  with  the  labor  he  had,  by  wise  admmistration, 
so  materially  advanced.  It  gave  a  new  insight  into  the  heart 
of  the  busy,  great  man. 

The  loss  to  a  community  of  a  nature  of  such  universality  is 
indeed  to  be  mourned.  But  while  we  raise  our  voice  in 
lamentation,  we  yet  praise  the  Lord  for  having  blessed  us 
with  the  life  and  work  of  Jesse  Seligman. 

Yours  sincerely, 

MINNIE   D.   LOUIS. 


From   Hon.  Isidor  Straus,  President  of  the  Edueatiotial 

Alliance. 

Epitaphs  are  usually  supposed  to  extol  the  virtues  of  the 
departed,  and  throw  the  mantle  of  charity  over  his  foibles. 
No  such  consideration  need  be  had  with  the  memory  of  Jesse 
Seligman. 

His  works  have  engraven  a  tablet  more  lasting  than  any 
monument  of  marble.  The  story  of  his  life  and  its  lessons 
may  be  related  with  profit  to  every  struggling  youth. 

Few  men  have  succeeded  in  leaving  such  favorable  imprints 
in  so  many  walks  of  life;  and  his  career,  whether  as  merchant, 
banker,  friend,  citizen  or  philanthropist,  may  well  serve  as  a 
model  to  the  thousands  of  his  wards  scattered  over  the  length 
and  breadth  of  this  country. 

ISIDOR  STRAUS. 


From  Gen'l  Horace  Porter. 

The  news  of  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  has  fallen  upon 

many  of  the  most  prominent  business  men  in  New  York  with 

something  akin  to  the  grief  of  a  personal  bereavement.     Few 

of  our  citizens  have  been    more  generally  known   or  more 


TRIBUTES  31 

highly  esteemed.      His  sudden   removal  from   the  company  of 
his  friends  and  from  the  active  walks  of  business  life,  brings  a 
deep   regret  to   many  hearts  and  recalls   the  admirable  traits 
which  adorned  his  character.     My  personal  acquaintance  with 
him  began  a  few  years  after  the  War.     I  had  before  that  time 
heard  officers  of  the  army  and  others  speak  in  admiring  terms 
of  him  during  his  sojourn  on  the  Pacific  Coast,  where  he  had 
displayed  so  much  public  spirit  and  such  indomitable  courage 
at   the   time  the   law-abiding   citizens  were  trying   to  redeem 
that  community  from  the  domination  of  the  criminal  classes. 
I  found   him  displaying  the  same  qualities  in  the  metropolis 
which  had  commended  hmi  to  his  fellow-citizens  in  the  West. 
He  had  been  loyally  devoted  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  in  the 
great   struggle   for  the  preservation   of  its  integrity    and  was 
always  an  ardent  laborer  in  all   good  works.     He  was  never 
known  to  be    anything  but   fearless  in  the  advocacy  of  the 
principles  he  believed  to  be  right,  and  always  manifested  his 
faith  by  his  works.      1  le  was  generous  to  a  fault,  and  few  men 
in  the  country   have  been   more    liberal   in   contributing  to 
worthy  objects.     He  was  so   modest  in    the  conduct  of  his 
charities,  that  perhaps  the  world  will  never  know  the  amount 
of  his  means  which  he  devoted  to  such    purposes.     In  the 
complicated  negotiations  which  often  arise  in  business  enter- 
prises of  magnitude,  he  always  leaned  toward  harmony  and 
the   avoidance   of  personal  animosities.      In  business  under- 
takings, his   advice  was  constantly  sought   and  his  judgment 
always   carried  great  weight.      While  he  had   positive  convic- 
tions on  all  subjects,  he  was  exceedingly  liberal  in  his  views 
and  did  not   entertain  personal  dislike  because  men  differed 
with  him  in  opinion.     For  many  years  he  had  been  a  familiar 
figure   in  our  city,  and  it  was  hoped  by  his  friends   that  he 
might   be  spared  many    years  longer  to  enjoy  the   position 
which  he  had  won  for  himself — but  Providence  decided  other- 
wise.    Though  taken   from  the   presence   of  his  friends  and 
acquaintances,  he  will  always    live  in  their  recollections  and 
will  be  spoken  of  with  admiration  and  respect  as  long  as  manly 
traits  are  appreciated  or  human  virtues  are  honored 

HORACE    PORTER. 


32  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Frotn   Mk.    Morris   Tuska,  Trustee    of    the     Hebrew   Orphan 

Asylu7n. 

Among  the  many  remembrances  I  have  of  our  late  worthy 
President,  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  no  feature  of  his  activity  has 
impressed  me  more  than  the  great  interest  he  took  in  our 
former  Industrial  School  and  its  numerous  mmates,  in  their 
old  quarters,  77  th  Street  and  Third  Avenue. 

He  was,  in  fact,  the  very  soul  of  the  whole  establishment. 
1  recollect  that  either  at  the  Barmitzvah  or  at  the  confirma- 
tion of  one  of  his  sons  he  sent  his  check  for  a  thousand 
dollars  for  the  purpose  of  teaching  the  children  printing,  and 
great  was  his  pleasure  when  the  asylum  engaged  the  late  Sol. 
Arnheim,  a  most  efficient  printer,  and,  in  fact,  a  master  of  his 
art.  Many  printers  who  to-day  hold  excellent  places  and 
earn  good  livings  were  pupils  of  Arnheim,  and  owe  their 
success  in  life  to  this  school,  and,  of  course,  to  Mr.  Seligman. 
A  notable  instance  is  Mr.  Stettiner,  of  the  firm  of  Stettiner, 
Lambert  &  Co. 

One  can  imagine  how  great  an  interest  the  late  Jesse 
Seligman  took  in  the  Industrial  School,  when  almost  every 
week  he  invited  Mr.  Arnheim  to  his  house  to  discuss  there 
with  him  matters  concerning  the  school.  In  this  work  Mr. 
Seligman  was  fortunate  in  finding  in  Mr.  Elfelt,  the  chairman, 
a  faithful  and  earnest  co-worker. 

It  was  only  the  removal  of  the  Asylum  to  its  present  distant 
site  which  could  have  induced  Mr.  Seligman  fo  give  up  his 
pet  and  favorite  school.  I  have  often  heard  him  say  that  if 
he  had  done  anything,  he  had  at  least  awakened  in  the  young 
a  taste  and  inclination  for  mechanical  labor  and  trades.  I 
cannot  say  what  he  thought  of  technical  schools,  but,  as  I 
know  his  views  and  opinions  so  well,  I  think  I  am  justified  in 
stating  that  his  preference  was  for  practical  trade  schools. 

The  noble  and  imposing  demeanor  of  Mr.  Seligman  always 
attracted  me,  and  in  my  long  career  as  trustee  of  the  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum,  in  which  capacity  I  came  almost  weekly  in 
contact  with  him,  I  have  ever  found  him  friendly  in  manner, 
kind  in  word,  courteous  and  polite  on  all  occasions,  and  pos- 
sessing a  warm  and  an  open  heart,  from  which  flowed  love 
and  good  will  towards  all. 


TRIBUTES  T,;^ 

In  conclusion,  I  can  only  add  that  my  associations  with 
Mr.  Sehgman  during  this  long,  long  period,  will  ever  belong 
to  the  dearest  and  sweetest  remembrances  of  my  life. 

MORRIS  TUSKA. 


From  Mr.  I.  S.  Isaacs,  Hon.  Secretary  United  Hebrew  Charities. 

He  was  consistent  in  his  genial  bearing  towards  all.  My 
first  recollection  of  his  kind  face  and  gentle  voice  is  as  my 
last;  he  was  always  the  gentleman.  He  seldom  said  "  No," 
if  he  could  help  it ;  and  if  the  question  asked  admitted  of  no 
different  answer,  his  declination  was  so  gently  given,with  such 
evident  good  faith,  that  it  was  robbed  of  all  unpleasantness. 
In  the  early  days,when  local  Judaism  was  divided  into  camps 
differing  in  mere  ritual,  he  was  the  peacemaker;  with  Jesse 
Seligman  there  could  be  no  quarrel.  His  patriotism  was 
proverbial,  his  integrity  a  lesson  to  financiers. 

I.  S.  ISAACS. 


From  Mr.    Emanuel  Lehman,   Chairman   of  the   Board  of 
Governors,  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum. 

In  all  communities,  be  they  large  or  small,  the  pre-eminent 
assert  themselves.  In  fact,  it  seems  a  natural  sequence  in  the 
ordination  of  human  affairs  that  those  best  endowed  take  the 
lead  and  are  willingly  followed  and  heeded. 

Such  a  man  was  Jesse  Seligman,  so  long  our  worthy  cham- 
pion and  wiser  guide,  who  has  now  so  suddenly  been  called 
from  our  midst:  and  of  him  who  has  been  our  pride  and  our 
support,  it  may  be  truly  said,  *'  A  noble  soul  has  taken  its 
flight." 

To  me,  who  have  known  him  so  many  years,  the  loss  seems 
irreparable,  and  though  I  sorely  grieve,  I  feel  that  his  worth 
awakens  sorrow  in  all,  and  never  was  a  man — humanity's 
great  friend — more  justly  mourned. 

It  is  slight  tribute  to  speak  good  of  him,  of  whom  none 
could  say  aught  else.  His  whole  life  has  been  one  of  devo- 
tion to  every  good  cause,  appealing  to  all  our  citizens,  all  our 
race. 

For  many  years  it  has  been  my  privilege  to  count  him  a 


34  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

near  neighbor  and  dear  friend,  an  association  which  will  ever 
be  a  satisfaction.  He  was  a  man  of  the  purest  ideals  ;  his 
purposes  the  most  lofty,  and  1  have  never  met  any  one  of  a 
more  charitable  instinct.  To  his  credit  be  it  said,  his  heart 
knew  no  creed,  no  race,  no  section.  As  a  parent,  however, 
seems  to  cling  more  tenderly  to  the  weakling  amongst  all  his 
beloved  family,  so  1  think  that  a  little  more  of  his  affection 
went  out  to  the  poor  orphan  children  of  our  large  family,  and 
I  believe  that  the  great  institution,  to  which  his  name  will 
ever  be  linked  had  become  a  part  and  parcel  of  his  existence. 
Nor  do  I  think  I  am  doing  an  injustice  to  any  of  the  many 
others  who  have  co-operated,  when  I  say  that  to  him  mainly 
is  it  due  that  the  Orphan  Asylum  stands  to-day  an  honor  and 
an  ornament  to  our  city,  and  a  pride  to  our  faith,  while  I  only 
repeat  here  what  he  has  so  frequently  observed  to  me, — "  May 
those  who  come  after  us  guard  the  cause  as  carefully  and  as 
earnestly  as  we  have  endeavored  to  do," — a  pure  wish,  which 
deserves  fulfilment.  His  responsive  heart  was  ever  open  to 
every  appeal,  and  it  is  needless  to  advert  at  length  to  his 
multitudinous  efforts,  in  every  charitable  undertaking.  He 
was  directly  concerned  in  all. 

On  a  certain  occasion,  when  the  Jewish  residents  of  this 
city  joined  to  do  him  honor,  he  aptly  remarked  that  he  had 
played  many  parts  in  life,  and  these  words,  with  his  happy 
face,  recur  vividly  to  me  in  these  sad  hours.  He  did  play 
many  parts. — all  of  them  well, — and  the  world,  which  were 
his  auditors,  applauded  his  every  role.  He  was  of  singular 
modesty,  with  the  sole  ambition  to  do  good,  and  it  is  strange 
that  the  natural  aspirations  of  mankind  for  political  and  social 
distinction  should  have  been  so  curbed  in  him.  He  was 
offered  the  highest  preferment,  and,  eminently  fitted  to  fill  the 
same,  still  refused  the  many  distinctions  that  came  to  his  hand. 
What  a  noble  instance  of  the  simplicity  of  character,  and 
what  a  beautiful  example  to  the  restless  and  feverish  spirit  of 
the  times ! 

His  public  and  private  position  won  him  respect  and 
esteem  on  the  one  side,  and  affection  and  devotion  on 
the  other.  He  was  amongst  our  foremost  citizens,  recog- 
nized for  his  patriotism   and  public  services,  and,  to  those  of 


TRIBUTES  35 

our  faith,  where  he  was  the  leader — a  model  and  a  source  of 
universal  pride, — his  memory  will  ever  be  revered. 

To  those  in  close  association  with  him,  hfe  will  show  a 
great  void,  for  to  have  known  him  was  to  have  cherished  and 
to  have  loved  him— the  world  is  much  the  poorer  since  his 
going — and  of  such  as  him  it  is  written  : 

"  Mercy  and  Truth  are  met  together; 

Righteousness  and  Peace  have  kissed  each  other ; 
And  Righteousness  shall  look  down  from  heaven." 

E.   LEHMAN. 


From  Mr.  Cornelius  N.  Bliss. 

Jesse  Seligman  is  dead.  I  saw  him  at  his  office  two  days 
before  he  left  for  California,  and  was  so  impressed  with  his 
changed  appearance  that  the  inteUigence,  although  a  shock, 
was  not  wholly  surprising.  I  have  known  Mr.  Seligman  for 
many  years,  intimately  since  1S84.  He  was  always  the  same 
kindly,  genial  gentleman,  possessing  the  absolute  confidence 
of  his  friends.  No  truer  friend,  once  in  Jesse's  confidence, 
did  man  ever  have.  With  his  partners,  his  brothers,  he  has 
been  of  inestimable  service  to  the  U.  S.  Government  from  the 
time  of  the  Civil  War. 

A  believer  in  Republican  principles,  he  was  a  quiet  but  all- 
important  influence  in  the  counsels  of  his  party.  Sagiacious 
in  counsel,  always  for  peace  and  unity,  liberal  in  view,  render- 
ing to  all  their  just  dues.  He  will  be  sorely  missed  in  all 
circles — social,  charitable,  business  and  political. 

C.  N.  BLISS. 


From  Mr.  Morris  Goodhart,  President  of  the  Hebrew 
Sheltering  Guardian  Society. 

My  acquaintance  with  the  late  Jesse  Seligman  dates  back  to 
the  year  1869,  when  I  came  to  New  York.  I  had  a  letter  of 
introduction  to  him  from  Mr.  Justice  Hinman,  the  then 
Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Errors  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  who  had  been  a  warm  personal  friend  of  his. 
He  received  me  in  a  most  cordial  way,  and,  with  his  always 
affable  manner,  assured  me  that  if  there  was  anything  he 
could  do  to  further  my  interests  in  New  York  he  would  be 


36  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

glad  to  do  so.     From  that  moment  I  enjoyed   his  continued 
friendship.      I  always  found  him  deeply  interested  in  all  that 
was  good   and  noble.      In   frequent  conversations  with  him 
about  communal  affairs,  he  was  most  anxious  that  our  co- 
religionists should  be  impressed  with   the  great  opportunities 
afforded  to  them  in  this  land  of  liberty  and  freedom.     What 
he  most  desired  was  that  they  should  maintain  a  reputation 
for  good,  honest  citizenship,  and  that  every  effort  should  be 
made  to  so  educate  the  dependents  in  our  orphan  asylums 
that  they  should  become  self-sustaining  and  appreciate  the 
beneficence  of  the  State  in  making  liberal  allowances  for  their 
maintenance  and  support.     As  is  well  known,  Mr.  Seligman's 
benefactions  were  numerous  and  liberal,  though   quiet  and 
unostentatious.     The  death  of  such   a  man  leaves  many  a 
home  desolate,    and  will  cause   ceaseless    pain  to  suffering 
humanity,  especially  to  those  who  were  the  recipients  of  his 
manifold  bounties.     In  fact,  his  whole  soul— yes,  the  embodi- 
ment of  his  whole  Ufe — is  best  expressed  in  his  own  words, 
uttered  by  him  at  the  banquet  of  the  semi-centennial  of  the 
Order  of  Bne   B'rith  last  October:    "Charity:   This  word 
excludes  no  benevolence,  and  includes  every  beneficence  by 
which  humanity  is  lifted  higher  and  higher.     It  is  not  circum- 
scribed by  creed,  and  is  as  broad  as  religion  itself.     It  is,  in 
fact,  the  translation  of  creed  into  deed." 

The  moral  worth  of  such  a  man  it  is  difficult  to  estimate. 
It  is  priceless ;  it  is  beyond  compare. 

MORRIS  GOODHART. 


From  Mr.  J.  Edward  Simmons,  Prcsidoit  4th  National  Bank. 
By  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  business  community 
loses  one  of  its  most  progressive,  honest,  upright  men,  and  the 
City  of  New  York  is  deprived  of  the  services  of  one  of  its 
most  public-spirited  and  high-toned  citizens.  No  commend- 
able public  enterprise  was  without  his  support,  and  he  was 
always  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  poor  and  the 
needy. 

J.  EDWARD  SIMMONS. 


TRIBUTES  37 

From  Mr.  Myer  Stern,  Secretary  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum. 

An  association  of  a  third  of  a  century  with  Jesse  Seh'gman 
knitted  him  closely  to  me,  and  I  feel  like  one  astray  now  that 
he  has  gone  from  us.  I  could  recall  many  a  reminiscence  of 
the  man  that  showed  his  sturdy  character  and  his  tender  heart 
had  I  the  time  to  collect  my  thoughts.  In  fact,  if  once  the 
treasure-house  of  my  memory  were  opened,  the  flow  would  be 
well-nigh  unceasing.  I  recall  an  incident,  however,  that  I 
witnessed  when  his  guest  at  Long  Branch  and  elsewhere  of 
his  conduct  towards  animals  which  illustrates  his  tenderness 
and  thoughtfulness.  I  have  seen  him  leave  his  house  in  the 
early  morning,  when  those  about  him  were  yet  in  slumber, 
and  walk  to  his  stables  with  sugar  in  one  hand,  and  carrots, 
etc.,  in  the  other.  As  he  approached  the  door,  the  noble 
animals,  recognizing  his  footsteps,  neighed  cheerily,  as  though 
bidding  him  good-morning.  As  he  came  up  to  them,  they 
laid  their  heads  upon  his  shoulders  and  ate  the  tid-bits  he 
offered  them.  The  same  tenderness  that  he  showed  his  ani- 
mals was  manifested  to  the  most  lowly  human  being  that  came 
in  contact  with  him. 

No  better  proof  of  his  humanity  and  his  open-heartedness 
can  be  given  than  the  incident  that  occurred  on  a  trip  that  he 
made  to  the  Pacific  Coast  a  few  years  ago.  He  was  traveling 
with  his  family  in  a  private  car,  which  was,  of  course,  stocked 
with  all  the  household  requirements  and  with  a  large  supply 
of  food  and  delicacies.  Their  train  was  overtaken  by  a  snow- 
storm and  stuck  in  a  snow-drift,  which  the  engineer  made 
every  effort  to  push  through.  For  two  days  or  more,  I  believe, 
the  train  was  delayed  here,  it  being  impossible  to  go  forward 
or  backward.  The  suffering  among  the  passengers,  especially 
the  women  and  children,  was  intense,  for  there  was  no  way  at 
hand  of  supplying  their  wants.  It  was  not  for  Jesse  Seligman 
to  stand  by  and  see  such  suffering  while  his  car  was  stocked 
with  provisions,  and  he  directed  that  the  tables  be  set,  and 
invited  those  that  wished  to  enter  and  partake  of  nourishing 
food,  and  the  blessings  of  about  two  hundred  hungry  men, 
women  and  children  went  heavenward  for  the  bounty  of  Jesse 
Seligman  and  his  family. 

MYER  STERN. 


38  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Prom   Mr.   Ciiaki.ks   L.   Bernheim,  President  Home  for  Aged 

and  hijirin. 

It  affords  me  very  great  pleasure  to  pay  my  tribute  of  respect 
to  the  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman. 

His  activity  in  every  philanthropic  and  patriotic  movement 
entitles  him  to  the  respect,  admiration  and  love  of  all  his 
fellow-citizens.  In  his  judgment,  no  movement  whose  aim 
was  noble  or  elevating  was  too  narrow  or  too  broad  to  be 
denied  his  sympathy  and  support. 

As  one  who  has  been  identified  with  him  in  some  of  these 
movements,  it  is  not  only  a  pleasure,  but  a  duty,  to  acknow- 
ledge the  pre-eminence  of  his  services,  and  the  great  void 
caused  by  his  too  early  death. 

Yours  very  truly, 

CHARLES  L.  BERNHEIM. 


Yrom  Mr.  Lewis  May,  President  Temple  Ejnanu-Ei. 
I  have  received  your  communication  asking  me  to  give  you 
some  reminiscences  of  my  intercourse  with  the  late  Jesse 
Seligman.  I  greatly  regret  that  I  am  unable  to  comply  with 
your  request.  Our  friendship  has  existed  uninterruptedly 
during  a  period  of  forty-one  years ;  and  were  I  to  attempt  to 
write  down  all  that  I  think  and  feel  at  this  moment,  I  should 
require  the  entire  space  of  your  valuable  journal.  And  even 
that  would  not  suffice  for  a  description  ot  one  so  beloved  and 
esteemed  of  every  one  who  had  the  good  fortune  to  know  him. 
Few  men  were  so  cherished  by  their  friends  or  so  admired  by 
their  fellow-citizens. 

I  am,  dear  sir, 

Very  truly  yours, 

LEWIS  MAY. 


From  Mr.  Uriah  Herrmann. 
Reformed  and  orthodox  Hebrews  must  mourn  his  loss. 
He  was  foremost  in  assisting  me  as  President  of  the  Fair 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Congregation  Shaaray  Tefila  in  1880, 
and  his  co-operation  was  of  great  value  to  the  enterprise. 

URIAH   HERRMANN. 


TRIBUTES  39 

From  Miss  Julia  Richman,  Principal  Grammar  School  No.  yy. 

Mr  Seligman's  death  brings  with  it  a  deep  regret  that  so 
valuable  a  member  of  our  community  has  been  called  away 
from  the  work  for  which  he  was  so  pre-eminently  fitted. 

May  the  influence  of  his  life  and  example  stimulate  others 
to  do  God  s  work  in  the  way  he  did,  so  that  when  death  takes 
each  in  turn  he  may  leave  behind  him  like  Mr.  Seligman,  a 
•noble  record,  as  a  man  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  Jew. 

Yours  sincerely, 

JULIA  RICHMAN. 


From  Hon.  A.  S.  Solomons,  Sedy  Baron  De  Hirsch  Fund. 

A  great  Jew  has  been  called  unto  his  fathers.  Great,  not 
that  he  was  a  profound  scholar  ;  great,  not  because  he  was 
an  exceptionally  successful  man  ;  great,  not  on  account  of  his 
Vast  popularity  ;  but  great  that  not  only  he  was  a  wise  and  a 
just  man,  but  greater  than  all  because  his  great  heart  went 
out  unreservedly  to  his  fellow-man,  and,  whether  sunshine  or 
darkness  hovered  over  their  houses,  he  could  always  be 
counted  upon  as  ''  a  friend  indeed." 

His  cheery  face,  which  was  seldom  swept  by  a  cloud,  was 
in  itself  a  panacea  for  ''  the  ills  that  flesh  is  heir  to,"  and 
buoyed  up  many  a  sinking  spirit  even  more  than  the  goodly 
bank  check  so  deferentially  and  stealthily  tendered,  for  he 
never  flung  things  at  people,  but  smoothed  out  the  wrinkles 
of  care  with  "words  fitly  spoken,"  and  wreathed  in  a  smiling 
halo  all  his  own. 

Possessing  very  decided  political  affiliations,  he  was  always 
tolerant  of  the  opinions  of  others,  believing  that  no  one  party 
or  any  one  rehgion  had  a  monopoly  in  all  of  the  good  things 
in  this  life  or  in  the  broader  hfe  beyond  the  tomb. 

His  race  pride  was  paramount  to  all  else  besides,  and  he 
never  lost  confidence  in  the  sustaining  power  of  immigrant 
Jews,  whether  as  scholars,  mechanics,  agriculturists,  manu- 
facturers or  traders,  providing  liberty  be  accorded  to  them  in 
the  true  American  sense,  and  that  the  arm  of  the  law,  and 
even  the  still  greater  power  of  public  opinion,  be,  as  it  always 
is  when  squarely  put  to  the  test,  unprejudiced,  and  therefore 
^' truly  just  to  all,  and  especially  so  to  the  people  of  the 


40  JESSE  SEIvlGMAN 

Book,"  who  have  given  to  the  Christian  world  their  Savior, 
and  who  are  to-day  the  peers,  if  not  the  leaders,  in  promoting 
benevolence,  science,  music,  art  and  all  those  other  God- 
given  qualities  which  elevate  and  make  happy  the  human 
race. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  an  inspiration  personified  and  crystal- 
lized in  prismatic  beauties.  His  influence  for  good  was  irre- 
sistible, and  this  quality  was  never  manifested  in  a  greater 
degree  than  when,  at  a  large  dinner  given  to  him  by  his 
friends  just  as  he  was  about  to  sail  for  Europe  about  two 
years  ago,  and  when  the  Russian  Jews,  driven  from  the  homes 
of  their  childhood  by  a  fanatically  religious  brute  of  a  Czar, 
for  no  other  reason  than  because  they  obstinately  refused  to 
barter  their  consciences  for  worldly  benefits,  Jesse  Seligman's 
influence  then,  as  always,  came  to  the  front  in  an  impromptu 
collection  of  over  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  by  the  guests 
for  the  assistance  of  those  poor  exiles,  made  poor  by  robbery 
on  the  part  of  the  Russian  Government,  whose  officers  were 
not  too  high  or  too  "poor  to  do  reverence"  to  the  very  last 
rouble  found  concealed  upon  the  persons  of  those  who  were 
literally  thrust  out  of  their  God-forsaken,  uncivilized  and  un- 
christian land. 

Apparently  small  things  sometimes  show  the  drift  of  the 
minds  of  men,  and  open  up  a  vista  of  their  innate  thoughts 
more  striking  than  by  public  acts  of  moment.  This,  to  the 
writer,  found  illustration  in  the  following  incident: 

In  his  dual  capacity  as  a  Trustee  and  the  Treasurer  of  the 
Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund,  he  was  at  his  best,  and,  however 
much  he  was  occupied  in  his  banking-house  or  in  his  home, 
he  always  found  time  to  give  careful  consideration  to  any 
subject  brought  to  his  attention,  and,  with  his  clear  concep- 
tion of  the  situation,  while  always  protecting  the  best  interests 
of  the  Fund,  would  lean  just  a  little  to  the  merciful  side  of 
the  case,  and,  if  at  all  possible,  his  assent  was  invariably  given 
to  the  applicant's  appeal.  This  rule  he  applied  in  his  own 
business,  and  how  well  he  conducted  it  goes  without  saying. 
Affability  was  his  predominant  trait,  and,  as  it  was  so  truth- 
fully said  of  the  late  honored  James  G.  Blaine,  his  "No"  was 


TRIBUTES  41 

SO  kindly   pronounced   that    it    sounded    like    a    ''Yes"    in 
disguise. 

At  a  sumptuous  dinner  recently  given  at  his  house  to  a 
score  of  his  gentlemen  friends,  his  tact  in  bringing  out  the 
sahent  features  of  character  of  every  person  present,  and  so 
eliciting  happy  responses  from  each  free  from  ordinary  con- 
ventionalities, was  the  subject  of  general  remark  and  admira- 
tion. There,  as  elsewhere,  he  was  always  the  courteous,  old- 
time,  unaffected  gentleman,  whose  number,  with  regret  be  it 
said,  are  fast  diminishing.  These  qualities  endeared  him  to 
such  men  as  Lincoln,  Chase,  Grant,  Harrison,  and  most  of  the 
prominent  statesmen,  merchants  and  financiers  of  our  day, 
and  made  him  welcome  everywhere.  Almost  at  any  time  he 
could  have  been  made  a  Republican  candidate  for  the 
Mayoralty  of  our  city,  while  the  Seth  Low  Charity  Com- 
mittee never  submitted  a  report  on  the  disposition  of  the 
immense  sums  they  collected  without  first  consulting  him  in 
private  as  to  the  proportion  to  be  allotted  to  each  charitable 
organization  for  its  disposal.  He  was  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  the  Jews  of  New  York  and  throughout  the  world,  and 
was  respected  by  all  classes.  His  place  will  indeed  be  hard 
to  fill. 

The  day  before  he  was  bade  good-by  to  on  his  veritable 
"last  journey"  in  hfe,  he  said:  "I  do  so  regret  to  leave  just 
now,  because  the  annual  meeting  of  our  Orphan  Asylum 
takes  place  in  a  few  weeks,  and  I  dislike  so  much  to  be 
absent."  So  his  last  as  well  as  his  first  thoughts  were  with 
his  wards — his  darling  orphaned  children,  whom  God  gave  to 
his  gentle  and  fatherly  keeping.  But  alas  !  his  dear  soul  has 
now  "joined  the  choir  invisible  of  the  immortal  dead,  who 
live  again  in  minds  made  better  by  their  presence.'' 

A.   S.   SOLOMONS. 


From  Mr.  Joel  B.  Erhardt. 
I  have  known  Jesse  Seligman  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury. Appreciation  of  his  worth  grew  with  the  acquaintance- 
ship. He  was  generous,  without  ostentation,  with  no  charac- 
teristic of  the  bigot.  He  was  a  broad-gauge  thinker,  and 
believed  in  true  manhood,  and  was  an  enemy  of  no  creed — 


43  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

believed  that  there  were  good  men  and  bad  men  in  all.  He 
was  forgiving  and  gentle  in  his  manner,  and  died  hating  no 
one.     His  place  cannot  well  be  supplied. 

JOEL  B.  ERHARDT. 


Frofit  Elihu  Root,  Esq. 
It  will  require  more  than  a  first  or  a  second  thought  to  fully 
appreciate  how  great  a  loss  we  have  suffered  in  the  death  of 
Jesse  Seligman.  I  can  think  of  absolutely  no  one  who  can 
take  his  place  as  he  took  that  of  his  brother  Joseph.  I  knew 
him  for  many  years — first  as  a  Republican,  always  earnest 
and  devoted  ;  afterwards  in  closer  and  more  personal  relations. 
During  all  these  years,  I  came  to  have  not  only  a  very  high 
'  esteem  for  his  many  admirable  qualities,  but  a  very  warm 
regard  for  the  man.  He  was  not  only  sagacious  and  successful 
in  business,  he  was  broad  and  just  in  his  judgment,  of  a  serene 
and  kindly  disposition,  steadfast  and  warm  in  his  friendships, 
and  faithful  to  every  cause  which  he  espoused.  Few  men 
would  be  so  deeply  mourned  by  those  of  other  faiths  and  other 
races ;  few  deserve  it  as  much  as  he. 

ELIHU  ROOT. 


From   Mr.  Wm.   P.  St.  John,   President   Mercantile   National 

Bank. 

The  extraordinary  disadvantages  that  were  overcome  by 
Jesse  Seligman  to  eminent  achievement  in  the  business  world, 
will  be  told  and  told  again  for  the  encouragement  of  Young 
America.  That  such  contention  in  his  early  struggles  did  not 
sour  his  disposition  and  make  him  cynical  and  supremely  self- 
ish in  relation  to  his  fellows,  is  remarkable.  My  brief  testi- 
mony, therefore,  is  to  this  noteworthy  one  of  his  conspicuous 
characteristics — namely,  that  at  all  times,  on  all  occasions, 
under  all  circumstances,  he  was  the  self-possessed  but  genial 

and  considerate  gentleman. 

WILLIAM  P.  ST.  JOHN. 


Front  Hon.  M.  Elunger,  Editor  Menorah  Monthly  Magazine , 

There  are  but  few  Israelites  who  took  an  active  part  in  one 

or  the  other  of  the  public  movements  affecting  the  life  and 


TRIBUTES  43 

fortune  of  the  Jewish  community,  who  did  not  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  meeting  the  late  Jesse  Sehgman  and  be  struck  by  his 
earnestness,  his  kind  and  benevolent  disposition,  and  his  un- 
■selfish  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  the  people.  Let  me  recall, 
at  this  time,  the  part  which  he  took  in  organizing  the  concen- 
trated energies  of  the  Jewish  community  for  the  relief  of  those 
hapless  victims  who  were  fortunate  enough  to  escape  from  the 
Russian  house  of  bondage  when  the  Czar's  Government,  in 
1889,  inaugurated  that  terrible  Jew-baiting,  which  compelled 
thousands  to  leave  home  and  the  spot  upon  which  their  cradle 
and  that  of  their  children  stood,  in  fear  of  their  lives.  The 
•calamity  was  so  great  that  every  emigrant  ship  brought  hun- 
dreds of  these  unfortunate  refugees,  and  it  needed  the  efforts 
of  the  Jews  of  the  whole  country  to  meet  the  emergency;  but 
it  became  soon  apparent  that  the  burden  was  too  great  to  be 
borne  by  the  American  people  alone.  Means  were  required 
not  only  to  relieve  the  immediate  needs  of  the  emigrants  as 
they  arrived,  to  find  food,  shelter  and  garments  for  them,  but 
to  devise  ways  and  means  that  would  enable  them  to  earn  a 
livelihood  for  themselves  and  their  families.  Co  operation 
was  sought  with  the  Jews  abroad,  and  a  committee  organized 
for  the  purpose  of  securing  concentrated  efforts  at  home  and 
practical  assistance  from  abroad. 

Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  went  into  the  work  with  his  whole  soul, 
and  it  was  deemed  essential  to  send  representatives  to  Europe, 
to  lay  the  matter  before  the  Jewish  communities  there.  Mr. 
Seligman  was  very  anxious  to  have  the  late  Dr.  Lilienthal  go 
as  one  of  the  delegates,  but  death  suddenly  carried  him  off 
before  he  was  ready  to  leave.  I  then  met  Mr.  Seligman 
almost  every  day  for  a  number  of  weeks,  and  became  really 
attached  to  the  kind,  benevolent  man,  who  seemed  more 
anxious  to  attend  to  this  grand  enterprise  and  secure  success 
than  to  wait  upon  his  own  business.  His  countenance  beamed 
with  enthusiasm,  and  I  could  not  help  but  say  to  myself  that 
I  had  met  in  him  one  of  those  rare  souls  whose  love  and  com- 
passion is  in  unison  with  the  Divine   love  which  rules  the 

■world. 

M.  ELLINGER. 


44  '  JESSE   SEUGMAN 

From  Hon.  Myek  S.  Isaacs,  Chcxirvian  Baron  De  Ilirsch  Fund. 
Mr.  Seligman  was  distinguished  for  tact,  refinement  and 
amiability.  His  manner  was  peculiarly  his  own.  You  could 
not  refrain  from  loving  and  admiring  him  "  as  one  who  loved 
his  fellow-men."  His  benevolent  disposition  is  universally 
recognized.  He  possessed,  however,  the  rare  faculty  of  inspir- 
ing others  to  philanthropic  work.  His  exemplary  life  was  itself 
a  boon.  "  He  loved  peace  and  pursued  it.'"  His  hopefulness 
was  infectious — "he  would  not  give  up  the  ship,''  though  the 
particular  cause  in  which  he  and  his  colleagues  were  enlisted 
involved  constant  anxiety  and  disappointment.  It  was 
impossible  to  be  associated  with  him  and  not  to  feel  that  he 
contributed  to  the  happiness  of  humanity.     He  was  a  model 

citizen. 

M.  S.  ISAACS. 


From  Mk.  John  Sloank. 
The  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  is  a  great  loss  not  only  to 
this  community,  but  to  the  entire  country.  Fie  was  always 
loyal  and  true  to  his  party  and  to  the  Government.  In  the 
darkest  days  of  the  war,  he  never  failed  to  respond  for  aid  to 
maintain  the  Government.  He  was  fortunate  in  having  a 
host  of  friends,  and  his  friendship  was  always  strong  and 
tender.  We  shall  long  miss  his  friendly  greeting,  and  his 
place  in  the  community  will  be  difficult  to  fill. 

JOHN  SLOANE. 


From  Mr.  E.  B.  Harper,  President  Mutual  Reserve  Fund  Life 

A  ssociation. 

Few  names  in  the  financial  and  business  world  of  New 
York  are  better  known  than  that  of  Jesse  Seligman,  financier, 
banker,  philanthropist  and  citizen.  It  may  truly  be  said  of 
Mr.  Seligman  that  he  attained  one  of  the  highest  positions  of 
good  citizenship  in  the  metropolis  of  the  nation.  While, 
strictly  speaking,  a  financier,  he  was  ever  ready  to  brmg 
capital,  business  experience  and  financial  ability  into  the 
broader  industrial  enterprises  of  the  nation,  which,  in  their 
building  up,  employ  labor,  pay  out  vast  sums  in  wages,  add 
comfort  to  the  masses,  and  bring  prosperity  to  the  country. 


TRIBUTES  45 

He  was  not  a  mere  banker,  but  closely  identified  with  sound 
enterprises,  which  have  built  up  the  Empire  State  and  devel- 
oped the  resources  of  the  Republic.  He  was  a  man  to  be 
respected,  to  be  looked  up  to,  and  his  career,  as  it  seems  to 
me,  is  one  that  may  well  be  studied  to  advantage  by  the  youth 
of  his  race  and  his  country.  The  Hebrew  race  has  undoubt- 
edly given  to  the  world  more  of  the  most  extraordinary  in- 
stances of  great  wealth,  but,  at  the  same  time,  it  had  produced 
many  of  the  greatest  philanthropists  the  world  has  ever  known. 

In  this  respect,  Mr.  Seligman  resembled  such  men  as 
George  W.  Childs,  ever  ready  to  aid  those  willing  to  help 
themselves,  succor  the  distressed,  and  freely  contributing  not 
only  to  charities,  but  in  all  questions  requiring  generosity  and 
public  spirit.  He  was  an  honored  Repubhcan,  believing  in 
the  principles  of  the  party  of  progress,  and  the  party  whose 
principles  carry  comfort  and  contentment  to  American  homes. 

It  is  difficult  to  sum  up  in  a  few  words  such  men  as  Mr. 
Seligman.  He  was  a  man  who,  by  his  example,  as  well  as 
his  action,  benefited  the  community  of  which  he  was  an  hon- 
ored member,  and  his  death  will  be  greatly  regretted,  not 
only  by  those  who  knew  him  intimately,  but  the  whole  com- 
munity, because  his  demise  will  be  a  real  loss  to  them.  Our 
wealth  of  humanity  is  not  so  great,  even  in  this  great  city, 
that  we  can  afford  to  lose  many  such  citizens. 

E.  B.  HARPER. 


From  Mr.  Wm.  L.  Strong,  President  Central  National  Bank. 
Over  one-third  of  a  century  has  passed  since  I  first  made 
the  acquaintance  of  Jesse  Seligman,  and  during  all  these  years 
my  personal  relations  with  him  have  been  intimate,  both  in 
the  business  and  charitable  world,  as  well  as  in  politics,  and  I 
have  always  found  him  a  true  American  gentleman,  although 
of  Hebrew  persuasion.  His  character  and  principles  could 
be  emulated  by  any  nationality.  He  was  truly  the  peer  of 
any  man,  and  the  country  of  his  adoption  is  better  by  his  hav- 
ing lived  in  it. 

Respectfully  yours, 

W.  L.  STRONG. 


46  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

From  Mr.  S.  Kakeles,  Sexton  Temple  Emanu-El. 
During  the  war,  when  there  was  much  suffering,  caused  by 
the  absence  of  the  bread  winners,  who  were  on  the  battle 
field,  Mr.  Seligman  frequently  gave  me  sums  of  money  and 
orders  for  coal,  to  be  given  to  worthy  families  that  came  to 
my  notice,  stipulating  that  not  less  than  $5.00  should  be 
given  in  a  single  case. 

S.  KAKELES. 


^Txc  funeral. 


The  body  of  Mr.  Seligman  was  brought  on  in  a  special 
train  which  left  California  on  Thursday  and  reached 
New  York  Monday  night.  It  was  accompanied  by  the 
widow,  sons  and  daughters  of  the  deceased,  and  the  party  waS 
met  at  Albany  by  Mr.  James  Seligman  and  other  members  of 
the  family.  On  the  arrival  of  the  train  at  the  Grand  Central 
Depot,  there  were  in  waiting  the  full  Board  of  Trustees  of 
the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  and  a  large  number  of  relatives 
and  friends,  who  escorted  the  remains  to  Temple  Emanu-El, 
the  family  going  to  their  home,  2  E.  46th  Street.  It  had  been 
intended  to  have  a  mask  taken  by  the  eminent  sculptor,  Moses 
Ezekiel  of  Rome,  who  is  at  present  in  New  York,  to  be  used 
in  carving  a  figure  of  Mr.  Seligman,  but  the  operation  was 
postponed. 

The  funeral  services  were  held  in  Temple  Emanu-El  on 
Wednesday  morning.  The  Reader's  desk  was  draped  in 
black,  and  upon  the  platform  were  seated  150  children  from 
the  Orphan  Asylum,  most  of  them  little  tots,  whose  rosy 
cheeks  and  cheerful  looks  betokened  the  care  that  is  taken 
of  them. 

The  auditorium  of  the  building  was  pretty  well  taken  up 
by  the  members  and  relatives  of  the  different  branches  of  the 
Seligman  family  and  by  representatives  of  the  following 
organizations,  which  had  asked  the  privilege  of  taking  part : 
Trustees  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum 
Society,  Directors  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  of  the 
Hebrew  Technical  Institute,  the  Montefiore  Home,  Mt.  Sinai 
Hospital,  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm,  General  Committee  of 
the  I.  O.  B.  B,,  Purim  Association,  Seligman  Solomon 
Society,  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum,  Ladies'  Auxiliary  Society  of  Mount  Sinai  Hospital, 
Jewish  Ministers'  Association,  Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund  Officers, 
Y.M.H.A.,  the  Hebrew  Free  School,  Aguilar  Free  Library,  the 
Educational  Alliance,  the  Louis  Down- Town  Sabbath  School, 
Cantors'  Association,  and  Lebanon  Hospital. 


48  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

The  arrangements  at  the  Temple  were  in  charge  of  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  iM.  H.  Moses,  Chairman,  and  Louis 
Stern.  S.  M.  Schafer  and  Jacob  F.  Bamberger.  Thanks  to 
the  close  attention  in  advance  to  all  the  details,  on  the  part 
of  the  Chairman,  there  was  little  confusion  in  spite  of  the  vast 
assemblage  present,  within  and  without  the  building. 

The  pall-bearers  were  :  Hon.  Seth  Low,  Mr.  Cornelius  N. 
Bliss,  Mr.  Henry  Rice,  Mr.  John  A.  Stewart,  Hon.  Oscar  S. 
Straus,  Genl.  Horace  Porter,  Mr.  Lewis  May,  Hon.  Abram 
S.  Hewitt,  Hon.  Thomas  F.  Gilroy,  Mr.  Emanuel  Lehman, 
Mr.  Thomas  Dolan,  Mr.  Louis  Gans,  Hon.  John  Wanamaker, 
Hon.  Carl  Schurz,  Mr.  Chas.  L.  Bernheim,  Col.  John  J. 
McCook,  Mr.  Abraham  Wolff,  Mr.  D.  Willis  James,  Mr.  A. 
D.  Juillard,  C.  C.  Beaman,  Mr.  Edwin  Einstein,  Col.  William 
L.  Strong,  Hon.  WiUiam  Walter  Phelps,  Mr.  Hyman  Blum, 
Mr.  Myer  Stern,  Gen'l  Benjamin  F.  Tracy,  Hon.  William 
M.  Evarts,  Mr.  Edward  Lauterbach,  Mr.  James  McCreery, 
Hon.  Myer  S.  Isaacs,  Mr.  John  Crosby  Brown,  Dr.  H.  Baar, 
Mr.  Julius  Goldman,  Mr.  A.  S.  Solomons,  Mr.  James  H. 
Hoffman,  Mr.  J.  Hood  Wright,  Mr.  Chas.  Cramp,  Col.  F.  D- 
Grant,  Judge  JohnF.  Dillon. 

The  musical  portion  of  the  service  was  beautifully  and 
impressively  rendered  by  the  Cantor  and  the  choir.  As  the 
pall-bearers  marched  up  to  the  vestibule  to  receive  the  remains 
and  accompany  them  into  the  Temple,  an  adagio  by  Tschai- 
kow?ky  was  sweetly  rendered  by  Mr.  Victor  Herbert  on  the 
'cello,  and  after  the  casket  was  set  down,  Rev.  Wm.  Sparger, 
the  Cantor  assisted  by  the  choir,  sang  Shivisi.  Rev.  Dr. 
Joseph  Silverman  then  spoke  as  follows : 

Funeral  Sermon  of  Dr.  Silverman. 

"  I  come  to  bury  Jesse  Seligman  not  to  praise  him.  We 
come  together  to-day,  not  to  eulogize  merely,  not  to  glorify 
our  beloved  dead,  and  thereby  ourselves,  but  simply  to  take 
part  as  servants  of  God  in  the  triumphal  march  from  earth  to 
heaven.  I  call  this  procession  triumphal,  because  it  com- 
memorates  the  victory  of  a  true  life  over  the  annihilation  of 
death. 


THE   FUNERAL  49 

"  A  true  life  never  ends.  Its  voice  only  is  hushed,  its  earthly 
casement  only  is  corrupted.  We  mourn  the  silence  of  that 
sweet,  pathetic,  eloquent  voice  ;  we  mourn  the  loss  of  that 
stately,  grand  figure  ;  we  mourn  the  absence  of  that  majestic 
and  magnetic  personality  ;  we  grieve  the  loss  of  that  potential- 
ity that  might  yet  have  become  actual,  but  we  never  despair- 
ingly cry  out :  'The  end  has  come;  all  is  over;  vain  is  life.' 

•~  Those  who  do  not  understand  will  say  Jesse  Scligman  is 
dead  and  gone  forever.  To  us,  it  seems  as  if  he  has  but 
begun  a  grander  existence,  a  sublimer  life. 

'•  Can  it  be  that  God  sent  a  soul  like  his  on  earth  in  vain  ? 
Can  it  be  that  that  soul  lived  and  acted  amongst  us  to  no 
purpose  ?  Can  it  be  that  the  scintillations  of  his  mind  were 
only  like  evanescent  flashes  of  a  summer's  night,  that  the 
emotions  of  his  poul  rose  and  fell  without  purpose  as  the  bil- 
lows of  the  sea?  Did  not  rather  his  thought  quicken  the 
thoughts  of  others,  and  his  heart's  beat  excite  pulsation  in  the 
hearts  of  others?  His  soul  in  truth  has  come  in  such  close 
touch  with  the  souls  of  thousands  as  to  have  ingrafted  its 
virtues  on  them.  He  transplanted  much  of  his  higher,  better 
self  into  his  kinsmen,  his  friends,  his  colleagues,  associates — 
the  world.  I  would  almost  say  that,  even  while  he  lived, 
part  of  his  soul  transmigrated  into  the  bodies  of  others.  He 
cannot  be  entirely  dead  who  thus  lives  on  in  his  own  genera- 
tion, and  will  live  on  in  posterity.  He  cannot  be  dead  who 
has  lived  so  sublimely  as  to  leave  a  great  lustre  behind.  He 
cannot  be  annihilated  who  has  immortalized  himself  in  an  . 
institution  which  his  mind  and  his  heart  have  inspired  and 
aided  materially  to  bring  to  a  proud  consummation.  Such  a 
view  of  this  great  life  brings  to  mind  the  words  of  the  poet ; 
'I  know  that,  though  dead,  I  hive  never  died.' 

''A  life  that  is  beyond  the  power  of  death,  is  beyond  the 
scope  of  eulogy.  It  needs  no  words  of  man  to  bring  it  to 
recognition.  It  speaks  for  itself  and  commands  attention 
without  seeking  to  gain  favor.  No  words  can  improve  its 
beauty  or  its  power.  As  well  try  to  tint  the  rainbow,  or  add 
color  to  the  setting  sun,  perfume  the  fresh  rose  or  accompany 
the  song  of  the  birds,  as  to  portray  the  essence  of  a  great 
soul. 


50  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

*'  There  are  some  lives,  like  that  of  Jesse  Seligman  which 
are  subjects  for  the  poet;  they  are  natuie's  true  poems,  poems 
which  interpret  the  simpHcity  and  weakness  of  childhood,  the 
strength  and  modesty  of  superior  manhood.  The  souls  of 
such  men  move  with  an  almost  faultless  rhythm,  through  all 
the  intricacies  of  life  and  its  various  relations. 

"  You  have  certainly  seen  superior  souls  in  children,  which 
were  but  the  seed  that  later  flower  into  a  noble  maturity. 
And  whether  you  study  the  man  under  his  parental  roof,  or  at 
his  own  domestic  hearth  in  the  midst  of  his  beloved  family,  or 
in  the  social  circle,  or  the  commercial  world,  or  amongst  the 
poor  and  the  orphan,  or  in  the  House  of  God,  you  will  always 
find  a  great  soul,  a  noble  mind,  a  warm  and  charitable  heart ; 
you  will  always  find  truth  unvarnished,  sterhng  integrity, 
humihty  before  God,  modesty  and  simplicity  before  man,  and, 
above  all,  a  feeling  of  equality  with  all  his  fellow-men.  Such 
the  world  has  found  in  Jesse  Seligman. 

"  But  some  of  us  whom  it  was  privileged  to  come  closer  to 
him,  have  found  more  in  him  than  merely  the  good  man — 
the  great  financier.  We  have  found  more  in  him  than  merely 
the  friend  of  the  poor,  the  father  of  the  orphan,  vastly  more 
than  merely  the  ethical  man.  We  have  found  in  him — the 
representative  Jew. 

"  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  he  was  a  better  man  simply 
because  of  remaining  a  Jew,  but  that  he  thereby  demonstrated 
that  he  possessed,  in  addition  to  all  his  other  estimable  virtues, 
the  courage  of  his  rehgious  conviction.  He  was  permeated 
by  the  faith  of  his  fathers,  and  manifested  much  of  the  ideal- 
ism of  his  ancestors.  To  carry  such  an  idealism  into  this 
material  world  of  ours  gives  evidence  of  a  greatness  of  soul 
that  is  seldom  met.  And  to  maintain  a  consistent,  religious 
life,  in  spite  of  all  the  allurements  of  the  great  commercial  and 
social  world,  betrays  somewhat  the  spirit  of  a  manly  heroism. 

"Just  as  his  frank,  open  face,  with  its  benign  and  fatherly 
smile,  was  a  constant  reproach  to  all  untruth,  indirection  and 
injustice,  so  his  heroic  soul,  his  religious  faith,  his  consistent 
creed  and  deed,  were  a  constant  protest  against  every  form  of 
intolerance. 

"  This  fact  made  of  him  not  only  a  Jew — some  would  claim 


THE   FUNERAL  5I 

him  a  Christian  for  it,  others  a  Mohammedan,  others  a 
Buddhist — it  really  made  of  him  a  true  American.  As  such, 
he  lived  loyal  to  his  country  in  all  his  relations  to  her,  and 
as  such  he  died. 

"  But,  besdes  success,  honor  and  fame,  a  man  must  have 
some  comfort  in  this  life.  Where  did  our  deceased  brother 
find  his  ?  He  knew  too  well  the  value  of  money  not  to  be 
alwavs  cognizant  of  its  utter  worthlessness  to  obtain  the  true 
comforts  of  life.  It  was  no  special  pride  of  his  to  be  known 
throughout  the  world  and  to  be  a  power  in  the  land.  There 
is  no  true  comfort  in  all  the  things  that  can  be  bought.  But 
wherein  lay  his  comfort  ?  Was  it  not  in  the  love  of  his  family, 
of  his  kinsmen,  of  his  friends,  of  the  world  ?  You  know  how 
he  was  beloved  ;  you  know  how  you  all  loved  him ;  you  know 
that  this  demonstration  is  but  the  ou' pouring  of  our  love  for 
the  man  and  all  that  god  like  character  that  was  in  him.  And 
you  know,  too,  that  love  cannot  be  bought.  There  lies  its 
great  worth.  It  has  no  price  ;  it  can  only  be  gained  by  love. 
Many  rich  men  have  gone  down  to  a  nameless  grave  unhon- 
ored  and  unsung.  The  heart  is  a  citadel  that  can  only  be 
taken  by  another  heart.  And  so  great  was  Jesse  Seligman's 
love  for  truth,  goodness,  his  fellow-man,  that  he  became 
enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  all  that  knew  him  or  knew  of  him. 

"  From  thousands  of  hearts  there  comes  this  one  word  of 
love.  Mothers  repeat  his  name  with  affection  and  teach  it 
to  their  lisping  babes ;  the  poor  linger  affectionately  on  the 
memory  of  his  unknown  goodness ;  the  invalids  on  their 
couches  speak  of  him  to  one  another  with  the  sweets  of  love 
and  respect. 

And  these  children  here,  and  thousands  of  others  like 
them  who  had  learned  to  regard  him  as  a  father,  pay  in  silence 
their  tribute  of  love.  From  these  young  hearts  and  from  this 
vast  assembly  there  ascend  angels  of  love  to  guide  his  way 
with  seraphic  music  from  earth  to  heaven. 

May  God  receive  his  soul !  May  He  enshrine  it  with  the 
love  of  his  fellow-men,  and  place  it  in  the  great  galaxy  of  a'H 
the  immortals !  Amen." 

' '  Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord  "  and  "  Parting  and 
Meeting"  were  sung  by  the  quartette,  composed  of  Miss 


52  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Fanny  Hirsch,  Mrs.  A.  B.  Hills,  and  Messrs.  C.  Fritsch 
and  C.  Blum.  Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil  then  delivered  the  funeral 
address  : 

Oration  of  Dr.  Gottheil. 

"The  complaint  of  Isaiah,  the  Seer,  that  *'  the  righteous  per- 
isheth,  and  no  man  layeth  it  to  heart,  and  merciful  men  are 
taken  away,  and  none  considereth,"  cannot  be  raised  against 
us,  at  least  not  at  this  time.  For  of  a  surety  we  are  laying  to 
heart  deeply  that  this  righteous  man  is  lost  to  us,  and  we  are 
considering  most  earnestly  the  mournful  fact  that  this  merciful 
soul  has  been  taken  from  our  midst.  And  not  only  we  who 
are  of  his  religious  fellowship,  but,  as  this  representative 
assembly  testifies,  the  whole  city,  considers  the  death  of  this 
Israelite  citizen  a  public  calamity  Nay,  long  before  the  fatal 
stroke  fell,  whilst  yet  only  reports  of  his  shattered  health  vexed 
our  ears,  or  saw  his  benignant  face  grow  wan  and  worn,  and 
show  clear  signs  of  internal  ravages,  we  trembled,  and.  with 
anxious  looks,  asked  ourselves  :  Can  it  be  that  the  summons 
has  gone  forth  which  none  can  gainsay,  none  disobey,  and 
-that  soon  'his  place  shall  know  him  no  more  ?'  And  many  a 
silent  prayer  rose  up  to  Heaven  from  hearts  he  has  made 
happy,  that  the  well-beloved  may  yet  be  spared  to  us. 

For  it  needed  not  that  Death  should  fold  him  in  his  dark 
pall  to  make  us  see  the  light  that  dwelt  in  his  kindly,  generous 
nature.  We  knew  all  the  time  what  a  benediction  his  pres- 
ence amongst  us  was  -  knew  all  the  time  the  worth  of  his  life 
to  suffering  humanity,  what  hopes  would  sink  with  him  into 
his  grave.  We  were  aware  of  the  energy  of  benevolence  and 
the  patience  in  well-doing  that  were  hidden  behind  his  gentle 
face  and  pleasing  manners!  Oh.  how  comforting  it  is  to 
remember,  now  that  he  is  gone  from  us,  that  we  did  honor 
him  as  he  deserved  ! 

Although  no  ofTice  bearer  of  this  congregation,  he  was  one 
of  our  "  Senators"  by  natural  right  and  appointment,  and  we 
would  never  have  thought  of  deciding  any  important  question 
without  consulting  him.  Who  that  knew  this  Jesse  Seligman, 
and  had  a  spark  of  manhood  in  him,  could  have  caused  him  a 
moment's  displeasure,  since  he  himself  was  incapable  of  domg 


•      THE  FUNERAL  53 

SO  to  the  humblest  of  his  fellow-men  ?  Who  that  enjoyed  the 
prerogative  of  his  friendship  would  not  sooner  have  lashed 
himself  than  done  or  said  anything  that  might  even  seem 
wanting  in  respect,  let  alone  imply  an  affront  to  him  ? 

If  any  such  conflict  arose  ia  us,  it  was  not  of  his  provoking _ 
For  when  did  this  man  ask  for  anythmg  that  was  not,  and 
more  than  it,  rightly  his  own  ?  When  demand  anything  that 
was  not  gladly  conceded  ?  Even  when  he  felt  it  his  duty  to 
insist  on  his  opinion,  he  did  it  in  such  a  modest,  such  an  ami- 
able manner,  that  it  was  easy  to  his  opponents  to  yield  grace- 
fully. I  sometimes  thought,  in  such  cases,  if  truth  and  right 
are  not  on  Jesse's  side,  they  ought  to  be  there,  and  blush  that 
they  are  not.  I  seldom  saw,  in  my  long  experience,  a  leader 
commanding  such  loyalty  of  followers  without  ever  making 
them  feel  the  authority  which  he  possessed. 

Speak  of  the  right  man  in  the  right  place  !  If  a  voice  from 
heaven  had  chosen  the  man  that  was  to  be  father  and  mother 
both  to  the  parentless,  the  choice  could  not  have  been  more 
perfect.  Our  blessed  foster-home  out  on  the  hill  was  not  his 
second  home  ;  it  was  part  of  his  first,  his  family  home — so 
near,  so  ever-present  was  it  to  his  heart. 

He  reminds  one  of  the  good  Archbishop  of  Vienna.  When 
Johan  Sobieski,  king  of  Poland  in  the  seventeenth  century, 
raised  the  siege  of  that  city,  and  forced  the  Turkish  army  to 
beat  a  hasty  retreat,  the  liberated  people  poured  through  the 
gates  and  fell  upon  the  deserted  camp  in  search  of  food  and 
plunder.  The  Archbishop  was  amongst  them,  and  for  awhile 
gazed  upon  the  scattered  multitude  before  him  ;  then  he  saw 
a  number  of  deserted  children  that  had  been  left  behind,  and 
said  :  '  What  shall  be  my  part  of  the  spoils  ?'  Opening  wide 
his  arms,  he  cried  :  '  Come,  ye  poor  little  ones,  ye  shall  be 
my  share  of  the  spoils.'  So  did  Jesse  Seligman.  Though 
deeply  interested  in  political  life,  he  left  civic,  parliamentary 
and  diplomatic  honors  he  might  have  aspired  to,  to  others. 
He  chose  the  orphans  home  for  the  field  where  he  would 
gather  his  laurels.  They  adorn  his  head  ;  they  surround  his 
name  in  the  annals  of  mercy  in  this  city.  In  the  days  of 
sickness  and  languor,  the  sight  of  the  little  gray  jacket 
or    frock    seemed  to  rekindle   the   waning  flame  of  his  life, 


54  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

and    when    nothing    else    would    interest    him,    the    Asylum 
would 

We  call  Death  the  universal  leveler,  and  place  as  symbol  a 
scythe  in  his  hand.  But  is  this  quite  just?  All  men  are  not 
alike  in  death;  nay,  the  essential  difference  between  the  good 
man  and  the  bad,  the  selfish  and  the  unselfish,  the  lovely  and 
the  unlovely,  only  appears  in  its  full  significance  at  scenes 
like  the  present.  Only  the  dust  is  laid  to  dust  by  death  ;  the 
true  being  of  man  he  lifts  on  high,  and  calls  around  it  all  loyal 
hearts  to  do  him  homage.  Death  says  to-day:  Behold  a  man, 
behold  a  friend  of  men  behold  a  heart  that  loved  to  do  good, 
and  loved  it  best  when  done  by  stealth  and  never  found  to  be 
fame. 

Behold  a  man  of  substance,  whose  possessions  did  not 
and  could  not  attack  his  inborn  humility,  who  acknowl- 
edged and  served  his  (lOd  in  his  latter  days  of  great  prosper- 
ity, as  he  did  in  the  former  dayj;  of  his  scarcity.  Hold  his 
exit  from  this  city  to  his  entry,  as  he  loved  to  describe  it 
himself,  and  you  can  judge  for  yourself  what  kind  of  life  needs 
must  connect  the  two  points.  And  in  that  life  Temple 
Emanu-El  played  no  mean  part.  Jesse  Seligman  loved  the 
place  where  he  went  to  meet  his  God,  and  in  the  assembly  of 
his  brethren  to  worship  Him  in  the  manner  of  his  forefathers. 
Dear,  beloved,  honored  brother,  with  aching  hearts  we  take 
our  leave  of  thee.  There  are  not  a  few  here  to-day  who  were 
united  with  thee  in  the  bonds  of  friends  from  the  early  days  of 
struggling  manhood  to  the  triumphal  day  of  thy  death.  How 
they  shall  miss  thee !  Ho.v  we  all  shall  miss  thee  !  But 
God,  the  Lord  of  life  and  death,  is  just  ;  we  may  not  murmur 
at  His  decree.  Come  thou  in  peace  to  thy  resting  place. 
Thy  pure  soul  has  already  been  gathered  to  tlie  eternal  house 
of  God,  not  made  by  hands,  where  it  receives  the  recompense 
of  all  the  good  thou  hast  done  here." 

Dr.  Gottheil  ended  by  a  brief,  but  very  touching  appeal  to 
the  family,  that  if  he  does  not  say  much  of  their  grief,  it  is 
because  he  deems  it  too  sacred  to  be  spoken  of  at  this  public 
occasion,  and  he  especially  emphasized  the  sympathy  which 
the  congregation  feels  for  Mr.  James  Seligman,  whom  every- 


THE   FUNERAL  55 

body  loves  and  respects,  and  whose  long  services  and  close 
attachment  to  the  Temple  are  beyond  all  praise. 

The  family  and  friends  then  passed  out  through  the  centre 
aisle,  preceded  by  the  pall  bearers  and  the  body,  the  congre- 
gation meanwhile  retaining  their  seats  at  the  request  of  Dr. 
Gottheil,  to  avoid  confusion. 

The  funeral  cortege  went  down  Fifth  Avenue,  the  Trustees 
of  the  Orphan  Asylum,  the  150  children  and  the  members  of 
the  Seligman  Solomon  Society  escorting  it  on  foot  as  far  as 
Twenty-third  Street. 

Three  large  ferry-boats  were  required  to  convey  the  car- 
riages across  the  river.  At  the  cemetery — Salem  Fields — the 
services  were  very  brief.  Dr.  Silverman  gave  a  prayer  in 
English,  Rev.  Mr.  Sparger,  the  cantor,  read  the  Kaddish  in 
Hebrew  and  English,  and  Dr.  Gottheil  offered  a  final  prayer 
as  the  body  was  lifted  into  the  magnificent  mausoleum.  The 
immediate  members  of  the  family  then  entered  it,  and 
remained  alone  for  a  few  moments  with  the  body  of  their 
loved  one,  and  then  went  to  their  homes.  Others  who  were 
present  were  admitted  to  the  vault,  and  took  away  with  them 
sprays  of  the  violets  with  which  the  coffin  had  been  covered. 

An  awnmg  had  been  placed  about  the  tomb  to  shield  those 
present  from  the  rays  of  the  sun,  but  it  was  not  ample  for  the 
large  crowd  that  was  present,  among  whom  was  a  delegation 
from  the  Russian- American  Hebrew  Association,  who  wished 
to  assist  in  the  last  rites  of  one  who  had  done  so  much  for 
them  and  their  brethren. 

Services  were  held  at  the  family  residence  on  Wednesday 
and  Thursday  evenings. 


g^esoUitious. 


HEBREW  BENEVOLENT  AND  ORPHAN  ASYLUM 

SOCIEIY. 

Tribute  to  the  memory  of  its  deceased  President, 

Jesse  Seligman, 

at  the  Annual  Meeting  held  at  the  Asylum,  April  2gth,  iSgd- 


Bowed  in  sorrow,  and  grief-stricken  by  the  irreparable  loss 
which  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum  Society 
of  the  City  of  New  York  has  sustained  in  the  death  of  its 
President,  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  its  directors,  patrons  and 
members,  assembled  at  the  Asylum,  pursuant  to  a  call  for  their 
annual  meeting  have  adjourned  the  proceedings  as  a  testi- 
mony of  their  respect,  and  have  re  assembled  in  order  to 
place  on  record  what  must  needs  be  an  inadequate  tribute  to 
the  memory  of  him  to  whose  loving  devotion,  untiring  energy 
and  unflaggmg  interest,  inore  than  to  all  other  causes  com- 
bined, the  success  of  this  Society  and  the  faithful  performance 
of  the  philanthropic  and  benevolent  work  which  it  has  under- 
taken  have  been  due. 

In  the  earlier  days  of  the  Society,  when  it  assumed  the  task 
not  only  of  caring  for  the  orphan,  but  of  ministering  to  the 
needs  of  the  indigent  and  unfortunate,  the  self-imposed  duty 
would  have  exceeded  its  ability  to  sustain,  except  for  his  wise 
counsel  as  a  director,  which  he  became  as  early  as  1859. 

His  election  to  the  Presidency  in  1876,  an  office  which  he 
has  held  unmterruptedly  since  that  time,  provided  a  leadership 
for  this  body  so  excellent,  so  intensely  earnest  and  so  emi- 
nently qualified,  that  we  his  associates  had  but  to  follow  his 
inspiring  example  to  insure  what  we  can  without  vanity  record 
as  the  most  successful  charitable  work  accomplished  by  any' 
similar  institution. 

The  increasing  responsibilities  of  his  business,  far-reaching 
and  important  as  it  was,  his  obligations  to  society  at  large, 
whose  demands  upon  a  man  of  his  prominence  were  great, 


RESOLUTIONS  57 

and  his  devotion  to  his  religion,  in  which  he  was  ever  a  sincere, 
devout  and  loyal  beUever,  were  subordinated  by  him  to  the 
increasing  duties  attendant  upon  his  Presidency. 

In  bearing  witness  to  the  noble  qualities  of  heart  and  mind 
he  possessed,  and  in  expressing  our  admiration  and  gratitude 
for  the  many  deeds  of  benevolence  and  goodness  which 
characterized  his  life,  we  speak  not  only  as  his  associates  but 
on  behalf  of  thousands  of  men  and  women  in  this  community, 
graduates  of  our  Asylum,  who  found  in  him  a  father — men 
who  became  magnificently  equipped  for  the  battle  of  life  while 
inmates  of  the  institution  ;  and  women  who  now,  while  happily 
fondling  their  own  children,  recall  the  days  when,  in  their 
childhood,  they  were  protected  and  cared  for,  will  stand  at 
his  bier,  mingling  their  tears  with  those  of  his  family  in  sacred 
grief  for  him  to  whose  benefaction  their  present  happy  lot  is 
due. 

To  keep  within  our  proper  province,  we  limit  this  expres- 
sion of  our  regard  to  those  attributes  of  the  man  which  were 
apparent  in  the  work  in  which  we  were  permitted  to  assist. 

The  community  at  large,  speaking  universally,  will  bear 
tribute  to  his  exalted  worth  as  a  citizen,  to  his  honesty,  his 
probity,  the  warmth  of  his  affection,  his  sincerity  and  his  sweet 
simplicity.  For,  while  standing  prominent  and  pre-eminent 
among  men,  his  entire  life  was  distinguished  by  his  singular 
modesty  and  forbearance. 

To  his  afflicted  family  we  extend  our  sympathy  and  con- 
dolence, knowing  that  their  sad  bereavement  will  find  solace 
in  the  unblemished  memory  of  one  who,  vvhile  rendering  most 
worthily  and  devotedly  to  them  his  services  as  a  husband,  a 
father  and  a  brother,  could,  and  did  render  loyal  and  effectual 
service  to  the  community  of  which  he  was  a  member,  to  the 
nation,  of  which  he  was  a  most  distinguished  and  patriotic 
citizen  and  to  the  needy  and  suffering  wherever  they  required 
his  generous  help. 

Edward  Lauterbach, 
Oscar  S.  Straus, 
SiEGMUND  J.  Bach, 

Cof/imittee. 


58  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

TEMPLE-EMANU-EL. 
Fifth  Avenue,  cortwr  For/y-f/i/rd  Street,  N'.   V. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Hoard  of  Trustees  of  Temple 
Emanii-El,  held  April  25th,  1894,  the  following  minute  was 
offered  by  Mr.  Lewis  May,  president  : 

The  sad  intelligence  has  reached  this  Board  of  the  sudden 
death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligraan.  at  Coronado  Beach,  San  Diego, 
Cal,  on  April  23d,  1894.  He  had  left  this  city  only  a  few 
days  previously,  in  order  to  seek  renewed  vigor  in  different 
surroundings.  Though  knowing  the  precarious  state  of  his 
health,  none  of  his  friends  believed  the  end  to  be  so  near. 
The  blow  which  has  now  struck  them  is  thus  doubly  severe. 

In  recording  this  mournful  event,  the  Trustees  of  Temple 
Emanu-Kl  wish  not  only  to  express  the  feelings  which  they, 
in  common  with  the  rest  of  their  fellow-citizens,  experience  at 
the  loss  of  one  who  was  so  identified  with  the  best  and  mo'^t 
laudable  interests  of  his  people.  They  desire  to  place  on 
record  their  admiration  for  the  many  sterling  qualities  which 
have  made  the  name  of  Jesse  Seligman  beloved  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him.  Born  in  Bavaria  in  the  year  1827,  he 
came  to  this  country  in  1842.  Enticed  here  by  that  love  of 
free  action  and  the  free  exercise  of  one's  powers,  which  he 
ever  treasured  so  highly,  by  an  intense  devotion  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  business  of  which  he  was  the  head  he  has  made 
the  name  which  he  bore  honored  and  trusted  throughout  the 
mercantile  world.  He  has  aided  in  rearing  up  a  business,  the 
history  of  which  is  associated  with  the  history  of  his  adopted 
country.  In  questions  affecting  the  great  monetary  interests 
of  the  United  States  his  advice  was  oftentimes  sought  and  his 
words  heeded  with  attention. 

But  those  who  knew  Mr.  Seligman  only  as  the  head  of  a 
great  banking  house,  knew  not  half  the  man.  The  other  side 
of  him,  who  has  now  gone  from  our  midst,  was  developed  in 
the  sacred  precincts  where  religion  and  charity  hold  sway. 
His  love  of  the  faith  in  which  he  was  born  and  bred  was  fer- 
vid and  whole-souled  ;  but  to  it  was  added  a  broadness  of 
vision  and  of  thought  which  his  intercourse  with  the  world  at 
large  had  produced. 


RESOLUTIONS  59 

Temple  Emanu-El  has  lost  in  Mr.  Seligman  one  of  its 
oldest  and  most  constant  worshipers.  As  the  weekly  service 
came  around,  he  was  never  absent  from  his  place.  Emanu- 
El's  prosperity  was  dear  to  his  heart.  His  deeply  religious 
nature  loved  to  find  in  the  Temple  a  second  home,  and  to 
this  second  home  he  became  attached  with  all  the  fibres  of 
his  being.  Though  he  never  held  office,  he  was  often  called 
in  to  sive  his  counsel  in  matters  which  affected  the  life  of  the 
congregation.  In  conflicts  of  opinion  which  arose — as  they 
must  arise  in  the  councils  of  a  body  such  as  ours — his  counsel 
was  lovingly  followed.  It  was  always  on  the  side  of  peace 
and  in  the  interests  of  a  righteous  adjustment  of  conflicting 
■claims.  Our  common  worship  will  lose  a  touch  of  beauty, 
now  that  his  head  is  not  there  bowed  in  reverence  before  the 
Seat  of  Mercy. 

It  is  difficult  for  me  to  express  what  the  death  of  Mr.  Sehg- 
man  means  to  me  personally.  Associated  with  him  in  various 
ways  during  a  period  of  more  than  forty  years,  his  loss  is  the 
loss  of  a  brother.  From  out  of  this  continued  intercourse 
there  has  accrued  such  a  measure  of  reminiscences  which  now 
crowd  in  upon  me,  as  to  make  my  tongue  fail  to  give  utterance 
to  what  my  heart  feels.  But  not  only  as  President  of  this 
congregation  have  my  relations  with  Mr.  Seligman  been  so 
close ;  our  social  relations  have  extended  over  the  same  period 
of  time.  It  was  my  privilege  to  know  him  personally  during 
these  many  years,  as  few  others  have  known  him,  and  to 
learn  how  sincere  and  true-hearted  he  was  as  a  friend  and 
companion. 

Those  who  knew  Mr.  Seligman  best  will  remember  him 
most  dearly  as  the  almoner  of  the  gifts  a  kindly  Providence 
had  placed  in  his  giving.  Many  of  us  have  sat  for  years  with 
him  in  the  management  of  our  various  charities.  There  was 
not  one  which  he  did  not  help,  not  only  by  gifts,  but  by  the 
personal  devotion  of  a  heart  which  beat  for  the  poor  and  the 
lowly.  He  was  a  veritable  father  to  the  orphan  ;  nothing  was 
more  touching  than  to  see  the  time  and  strength  which  he 
gave  to  our  Asylum.  As  President  of  that  institution,  he  has 
done  more  than  any  one  to  raise  it  to  its  present  excellence. 
His  attention  to  these  duties  had  become   a  religious  observ- 


6o  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

ance.  Summer  and  winter  always  found  him  at  his  place; 
and  even  when  away  from  the  city,  he  made  it  possible  to  be  at 
the  head  of  this,  his  larger  family,  as  regularly  and  as  punctually 
as  when  near  at  hand. 

When  events  so  happened  as  to  bring  our  unfortunate 
brethren  from  Russia  in  such  quantities  as  to  tax  to  the  ut- 
most our  own  resources  for  taking  care  of  them,  Mr,  Sehgman 
was  among  the  first  and  the  foremost  to  come  to  their  aid. 
As  Treasurer  of  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund,  he  most  judiciously 
controlled  the  immense  amounts  which  passed  through  that 
Committee's  hands  —at  times  allowing  his  business  interests 
to  stand  back  in  view  of  the  demands  made  upon  him  in  the 
care  of  his  Russian  brethren. 

Of  his  many  other  charities,  who  shall  speak  ?  There  was 
hardly  a  public  or  a  private  need  to  the  alleviating  of  which 
he  did  not  contribute  generously  and  with  his  whole  heart. 
No  one  called  upon  Mr.  Seligman  in  vain  ;  and  they  will  feel 
his  loss  most  severely  who  have  received  of  his  bounty  in  the 
quiet  and  unassummg  way  in  which  he  delighted  to  give. 

Personally,  Mr.  Seligman  was  of  so  genial  and  straight- 
forward a  character  as  to  assure  him  a  most  hearty  welcome 
wherever  he  went.  Simple  and  unassuming  in  his  tastes,  he 
was  one  of  those  men  who  have  made  the  world  richer  by 
having  lived.  A  tender  husband  and  a  loving  father,  he  had 
all  the  qualities  which  go  to  make  a  beautiful  manhood.  He 
lived  in  the  fear  of  God  and  m  the  love  of  his  fellow-men.  To 
his  family,  whom  he  has  left  to  mourn  his  loss  at  a  time  when 
they  might  well  have  hoped  to  see  him  for  many  yeais  in  the 
active  employment  of  his  faculties,  we  would  tender  our 
respectful  and  loving  sympathy.  W'e  would  not  enter  into 
their  grief  at  this  moment  further  than  to  assure  them  of  how 
much  we  mourn  in  the  passing  away  of  Mr.  Seligman  the  loss 
of  a  great  and  good  man,  an  ardent  citizen  and  a  faithful 
communal  worker. 


MOUNT  SINAI  HOSPITAL. 
At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  Mount 
Sinai  Hospital,  held  on  Sunday,  April  29,  1894  the  following 
resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 


RESOLUTIONS  6l 

Whereas,  the  Almighty  in  His  infinite  wisdom  has  called 
from  us  our  beloved  friend.  Jesse  Seligman,  whose  benevolent 
disposition,  broad  philanthropy  and  sterling  character  not 
only  endeared  him  to  us,  but  inspired  all  his  fellow-citizens 
with  feehngs  of  admiration  and  respect  ;  and 

Whereas,  we  feel  keenly  the  loss  of  one  whose  helping 
hand  and  wise  counsels  were  ever  prompt  and  ready  in  the 
hour  of  need  of  every  worthy  cause  ;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  the  bereaved  family  our  most 
sincere  sympathy  in  their  sad  loss,  which  is  shared  by  the 
whole  community,  in  which  the  deceased  was  a  prominent 
figure. 

Resolved,  That,  as  a  mark  of  our  esteem,  we  attend  the 
funeral  in  a  body,  and  that  we  forward  a  copy  of  these  reso- 
lutions to  the  sorrowing  family. 

Marcus  M.  Mairks, 

Honoraty  Secretary. 


HEBREW  SHELTERING  GUARDIAN  ORPHAN  ASYLUM. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  officers  and  managers  of  the  Hebrew 
Sheltering  Guardian  Society  Orphan  Asylum,  held  at  the 
Institution  on  April  29,  1894,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  we  place  on  our  minutes  a  record  of  our 
deepest  sympathy  for  the  great  loss  that  the  pubhc.  and  more 
especially  the  widows  and  the  orphans,  have  sustained  by  the 
demise  of  our  friend  and  co-worker  in  the  behests  of  charity 
and  benevolence,  Jesse  Seligman,  late  president  of  our  sister 
charity,  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  ; 

That,  as  a  mark  of  respect,  we  will  attend  his  funeral  and 
forward  a  copy  hereof  to  his  bereaved  family. 

Morris  Goodhart,  President. 


MONTEFIORE  HOME. 
At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Monte- 
fiore  Home    called  this  day  to  take  official  recognition  of  the 
death  of  Jesse  Sehgman,  it  was  resolved  : 

Whereas,  we  have  heard  with  feelings  of  the  profoundest 
sorrow  of  the  death  of  our  friend  and  leader  in  philanthropy, 
Jesse  Seligman,  and  while  we  fully  recognize   our  inabihty  to 


62  JESSE  SELIGMAX 

add  a  single  leaf  to  the  crown  of  laurel  that  the  civilized  world 
has  bestowed  on  him  as  one  of  its  greatest  philanthropists, 
yet  we  desire  to  place  on  record  the  sentiments  that  actuate 
us  ;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  mourn  with  the  entire  community  the 
loss  of  one  that,  by  his  devotion,  generosity  and  self  sacrifice, 
has  endeared  himself  to  his  fellow- men  m  every  station  of 
life. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  our  co-worker  in  charity,  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  our  condolence  in  the  great  loss  it 
has  sustained  by  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  his  bereaved  family  the  assur- 
ances of  our  most  heartfelt  sympathy  in  the  great  loss  they 
have  sustained. 

Resolved^  That  we  attend  the  funeral  in  a  body,  and  that  a 
copy  of  these  resolutions,  suitably  engrossed,  be  sent  to  the 
grief-stricken  family. 

Louis  Gans,  Acting  President. 

April  29th,  1894. 


UNITED    HEBREW   CHARITIES. 

Xf.w  York,  May  is/,   iSg4. 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 
in  behalf  of  the  members  of  that  organization,  desire  to  place 
on  record  their  heartfelt  grief  at  the  loss  that  the  city  has  sus- 
tained in  the  demise  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman. 

They  recognize  his  career  as  that  of  a  patriotic  citizen,  a 
genial  gentleman,  a  true  hearted  Israelite,  a  benevolent  and 
intelligent  member  of  the  community.  For  many  years  at  the 
head  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum  Society, 
always  deeply  interested  in  the  welfare  of  the  thousands  of 
orphans  housed  within  the  walls  of  the  Asylum,  he  was,  from 
the  inception  of  this  Society,  its  generous  patron,  ready  to 
assist  its  work  in  purse  and  person,  always  heartily  co-operat- 
ing with  its  officers  in  devising  means  for  the  welfare  of  the 
poor.  The  committee  recall  with  special  gratitude  his  hearty 
assistance  in  the  recent  Emergency  Fund  collection.  In  con- 
veying to  his  bereaved  family  the  regret  with  which  this 
Society  and  kindred  organizations  feel  his  loss,  they  record 


RESOLUTIONS  63 

their  unqualified  respect  and  admiration  for  the  noble  life  thus 
closed. 

In  Jesse  Seligman  the  cause  of  charity  has  lost  one  of  its 
most  generous  and  intelligent  advocates.  He  knew  no  dis- 
tinction of  race  or  class.  Sympathizing  naturally  with  the 
distressed  among  his  brethren  in  creed,  his  heart  beat  as 
warmly  for  the  suffering  of  any  other  confession.  His  was  a 
broad  manhood  that  recognized  the  good  in  all  true  men  and 
dignified  humanity  by  constant  hberahty. 

Henry  Rice,  President. 

I.  S.  Isaacs,  Secretary. 


DISTRICT   GRAND   LODGE   No.   i 
Independetit  Order  B' ne  Erith. 

Resolved^  That  District  Grand  Lodge  No.  i,  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  B'ne  B'rith,  has  learned  with  profound 
regret  of  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  and,  together  with  all. 
our  co-religionists,  mourn  his  loss.  His  genial  disposition, 
his  simplicity  and  modesty,  his  sterUng  quaUties  of  a  man,  his 
unostentatious  demeanor,  and  his  many  deeds  of  charity  and 
philanthropy  have  endeared  him  to  our  people.  His  partici- 
pation m  every  movement  inaugurated  for  the  alleviation  of 
the  suffering  of  those  of  our  co  religionists  who  have  been 
driven  from  foreign  lands  to  our  country  for  a  home  and 
asylum,  and  his  identification,  either  as  an  ardent  member  or 
official,  with  our  philanthropic  institutions,  has  been  of  such  a 
nature  as  to  make  his  loss  one  that  will  be  deeply  felt  in  this 
direction ;  and  in  his  death  our  co-religionists  have  lost  a 
great  and  beneficent  leader. 

Resolved,  That  tne  General  Committee  of  this  Grand  Lodge 

attend  the  funeral  exercises  of  the  deceased  in  a  body,  and 

that  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded  to  the  family  of 

the  deceased. 

William  A  Gans, 
Joshua  Kantrowitz, 
Dr.  S.  B.  Wolfe. 


64  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

PURIM  ASSOCIATION. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Purim  Association,  held  on 
April  28th,  1894,  the  President  announced  the  death  of  Mr. 
Jesse  Seligman,  President  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum, 
whereupon  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Purim  Association  learn 
with  profound  regret  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman, 
whose  devotion  to  the  cause  of  charity  and  benevolence,  no 
less  than  his  distmction  as  a  citizen,  endeared  him  to  the 
community. 

Rewlved,  That  his  active  participation  in  the  management 
of  the  great  charity  identified  with  his  name,  has  ranked  him 
among  those  "  who  love  their  fellow  men,"'  and  whose  example 
is  precious  and  inspiring. 

Resolved,  That  in  Jesse  Seligman  the  Jews  of  the  United 
States  are  ca  led  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  leader  whose 
heart  beat  quickly  in  response  to  the  cry  of  the  suffering,  and 
who  was  ever  ready  to  succor  the  oppressed  — a  man  of  refined 
and  gentle  manners,  of  patriotic  impulses,  of  exemplary  and 
useful  life,  worthy  of  the  high  place  he  maintained  among  his 
fellow-citizens. 

Resolved,  That  the  Purim  Association  tender  to  the  sorrow- 
ing widow  and  children  of  Mr.  Seligman  their  sincere  sym- 
pathy. 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Association  attend  the 
funeral  in  a  body,  and  that  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  be  du'y 
engrossed  and  transmitted  to  Mrs.  Seligman. 

M.  H.  Moses,  President. 

M.   Herrman,  Secretary. 


LADIES'  AUXILIARY   SOCIETY,   H.  O.  A. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directresses  of  the 
Ladies'  Sewing  Society  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  held 
the  30th  day  of  April,  1894,  the  following  resolutions  were 
unanimously  adopted: 

Resolved,  That  this  Board  has  learned  with  the  deepest  sor- 
row of  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman.  the  highly  esteemed  and 
honored  President  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan 
Asylum  Society. 


RESOLUTIONS  65 

Resolved^  That  by  his  death  the  community  at  large  has  lost 
a  useful  member,  our  institution  and  its  inmates  a  valued  ben- 
efactor, and  our  Society  a  dear  and  cherished  friend. 

Resolved,  That  this  Board  attend  the  funeral  in  a  body. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  on  our  minutes 
and  published  in  the  press  of  this  city,  and  that  a  copy  thereof, 
suitably  engrossed,  be  presented  to  the  family  of  the  deceased 
as  an  expression  of  our  appreciation  of  his  worth,  and  of  our 
sympathy  with  them  in  their  affliction. 

jVIrs.  Jacob  Bookman,  President. 
Mrs.  Louis  Lavanburg,  Hon.  Secretary. 


HOME   FOR   AGED   AND    INFIRM    HEBREWS. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Home 
for  Aged  and  Infirm  Hebrews  of  New  York,  held  April  29th, 
1 894,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted : 

Whereas,  The  Almighty  in  His  wisdom  has  taken  unto 
Himself  Jesse  Seligman.  whose  noble  deeds  and  exemplary 
character  shed  lustre  on  his  race  and  on  all  that  surrounded 
him,  we  deem  it  our  duty  to  place  on  record  our  high 
appreciation  of  the  virtues  and  amiable  qualities  of  this  phi- 
lanthropist, whose  catholic  charity  embraced  all  creeds ;  and 
therefore  be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  deplore  the  death  of  one  who  has 
always  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  the  welfare  of  this  insti- 
tution.  and  we  extend  our  heartfelt  sympathy  and  condolence 
to  his  bereaved  family,  who  have  lost  a  devoted  husband  and 
father  ;  the  directors  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  a  wise, 
indefatigable  presiding  officer,  leader  and  colleague,  and  the 
orphans  a  tender  and  generous  sympathizer. 

Resolved,  That  this  Board  attend  the  funeral  in   a  body; 

that  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  our  minutes  and  copies 

thereof  transmitted  to  the   grief-stricken   family  and  to  the 

directors  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum. 

Charles  L.  Bernheim, 
GusTAVus  A.  Goldsmith, 
Joel  E.  Hvams, 
I.  Albert  Englehart, 

Committee. 


66  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

YOUNG   MEN'S    HEBREW  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Directors  of  the  Young  Men's 
Hebrew  Association,  held  at  the  Rooms,  May  ist,  1894,  the 
following  resolutions  were  adopted : 

News  has  reached  us  of  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  a  man 
who  combined  the  noblest  characteristics  of  the  American 
and  the  Jew.  Of  humble  parentage,  he,  by  the  exercise  of 
indomitable  courage  and  energy,  raised  himself  to  affluence, 
and  made  his  name  known  throughout  the  world.  Then,  from 
his  abundance,  he  gave  to  relieve  the  wants  of  others,  and  by 
the  exercise  of  the  grander  virtues  of  charity  and  philanthropy, 
made  the  world  his  home — his  brothers,  all  mankind.  There- 
fore, be  it 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  feel  the  loss  that  we,  in  common 
with  Judaism  and  humanity,  have  sustained;  and  as  a  proof 
of  our  esteem  for  the   distinguished  dead,  we    spread  these 
resolutions  on  our  minutes,  and  cause  them  to  be  published 
in  the  public  press. 

Julius  Levy,  Vice-President. 
Falk  Younker,  Secretary. 


SELIGMAN  SOLOMON  SOCIETY. 

The  Society  met  in  special  session  April  30th,  to  take 
action  upon  the  death  of  its  lamented  friend  and  benefactor, 
Jesse  Seligman. 

It  was  the  wish  of  all  present  that  the  Society  attend  the 
public  funeral  in  a  body.  It  was  further  resolved  to  hold  a 
Memorial  Service  on  May  7th,  exclusively  for  the  members  of 
the  Society,  so  that  each  might  give  voice  to  his  grief  at  the 
loss  of  one  so  dear  to  all. 

This  memorial  service  recorded  verbatim,  stands  upon  the 
minute  book  of  the  Society  as  its  humble  tribute  to  his 
sacred  memory.  The  following  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted  : 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  take  Jesse 
Seligman  unto  himself  away  from  his  family,  from  us  his 
wards,  and  from  his  sphere  of  usefulness  here. 


RESOLUTIONS  67 

Resolved,  That  in  him  the  world  beheld  the  type  of  highest 
manhood,  the  state  its  most  loyal  citizen,  the  religion  of  our 
fathers  its  best  disciple — one  who  truly  lived  in  the  likeness  of 
God,  and  philanthropic  charity — to  the  widow,  the  fatherless. 
the  persecuted,  the  outcast,  the  wanderer  upon  the  face  of  the 
earth — a  tireless  champion. 

Resolved,  That  his  pure  example  is  graven  upon  the  lives 
of  us,  his  foster-children,  and  that  we  shall  strive  to  live  and 
to  do  with  all  our  hearts  as  did  he,  our  noble  benefactor. 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  mourn  his  loss,  and  shall  forever 
cherish  his  memory. 


LEBANON  LODGE,  L  O.  B.  B. 

At  the  meeting  of  Lebanon  Lodge  No.  9,  Independent 
Order  B'ne  B'rith,  held  on  May  17th,  1894,  the  following 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman  was  unanimously 
adopted  : 

"  There  are  moments  in  the  life  of  individuals  and  nations 
when  they  stand  nearer  the  Divine  presence  than  at  other 
times  and  when  the  course  of  fate  calls  them  to  a  contempla- 
tion of  the  ways  of  divine  Providence. 

Such  a  moment  of  contemplation  is  furnished  by  the  death 
of  Jesse  Seligman,  a  man  of  our  race,  of  our  own  flesh  and 
blood,  and  we  think  the  time  is  opportune  to  pause  in  our 
pressure  onward  and  profit  by  the  lesson  of  the  hour. 

The  appearance  of  a  man  of  note  on  the  stage  of  life,  is 
one  not  of  daily  occurence.  Nature  seems  to  have  stored  an 
immense  fund  of  vital  energy  whenever  she  forms  a  man  of 
genius,  a  great  warrior,  a  towering  moral  creation,  an  inventor 
and  benefactor  of  the  human  race. 

Jesse  Sehgman  was  one  of  those  marked  by  Providence  to 
illuminate  the  noblest  elements  of  humanity.  A  self-made 
man,  he  grasped  the  wheel  of  fortune,  and  as  merchant  and 
banker  became  one  of  the  first  of  the  land.  His  moral  char- 
acter was  equal  to  the  highest  standard  and  type,  his  honesty 
of  purpose  and  action  remains  unchallenged.  His  qualities 
of  heart,  his  sympathy  with  his  fellow-men,  have  been  fully 
acknowledged,  and  placed  him  among  the  benefactors  of  man. 

He  was  a  true  Israelite.     Surrounded  by  great  wealth  and 


68  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

associations  with  tlie  noblest  citizens  of  this  land,  men  who 
wielded  the  destiny  of  this  country,  he  remained  through  all 
this  alluring  connection  a  true  son  of  Israel.  He  remained 
true  and  faithful  to  the  old  genius  of  Judah  as  a  faithful  leader, 
an  unflinching  co-rehgionist.  Though  he  was  no  member  of 
our  Order,  he  was  one  of  us  in  sentiment  and  purpose.  His 
charities  have  not  all  seen  the  light  of  day,  but  those  around 
him  and  nearest  to  him  in  works  of  benevolence  testify  that 
his  hand  was  always  open  to  give  and  to  bestow.  He  carried 
out  the  principles  of  our  Brotherhood,  guided  by  a  spirit  of 
love  and  righteousness.  All  our  sacred  duties  were  fulfilled 
by  him  by  intuition,  and  we  may  justly  claim  him  as  one  of  us 
whose  career  as  Israelite,  man  and  virtuous  citizen  sanction 
fully  the  post-mortem  honor  we  now  desire  to  bestow  upon 
his  memory,  and  to  inscribe  his  imperishable  name  upon  the 
records  of  Lebanon  Lodge. 

This  is  not  idle  adulation  but  a  work  of  love  and  duty. 

What  he  was  to  us  as  Israelites,  to  the  oppressed  and 
suffering  children  of  poverty  and  want,  is  inscribed  in  golden 
letters  in  the  heart  of  the  noble  charities  of  this  great  city. 

During  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  his  financial  aid  did  more 
than  armies.  He  fortified  and  maintained  the  credit  of  our 
struggling  Union,  until  there  was  not  in  the  entire  world  a 
country  whose  credit  stood  higher  than  that  of  our  country. 

Respected,  beloved,  honored  and  sincerely  regretted,  he 
answered  his  Maker's  call  and  joined  the  great  and  good  men 
of  Israel  that  live  in  our  memory. 

To  this  man's  memory  we  members  of  Lebanon  Lodge  thus 

bring  our  mite  of  tribute. 

To  us  and  our  brethren  his  name  will  remain  a  type  of  true 
manhood,  virtue  and  honor.  He  honored  our  race  and  it  is 
meet  that  our  race  shall  honor  him.  We  all  may  emulate  his 
example,  and  when  we  pass  away  in  the  course  of  time,  may 
we  remember  the  beautiful  words  of  Bileam  when  he  spake  : 

Tomos  nafshi  mos  jeshoran  us' he  achrisi  cofnohu.       "  May  I 
die  the  death  of  the  just,  and  may  my  death  be  like  his." 

Attest :  Dr.  S.  Waterman, 

Theo.  a.  Kohn,  President.  P.  W.  Frank, 

S.  Hamburger,  Secretary.  H.  Bromberg, 

Committee. 


RESOLUTIONS  69 

RUSSIAN-AMERICAN  HEBREW  ASSOCIATION. 

Resolutions  adopted  at  a  meeting  of  the  Russian- American 
Hebrew  Association,  held  at  the  Hebrew  Institute,  on  Sun- 
day, April  30th,  1894. 

Resolved,  That  this  Association  has  heard  of  the  death  of 
Jesse  Sehgman  with  great  sorrow  and  regret. 

Resolved,  That  the  virtues  and  noble  qualities  of  the  late 
deceased,  his  patriotism  and  philanthropy,  his  broad-minded- 
ness and  modesty,  have  endeared  him  to  the  hearts  of  the 
American  people  in  general  and  his  co-religionists  in  par- 
ticular. 

Resolved,  That  the  Russian  immigrants  have  lost  in  Jesse 
Seligman  a  staunch  friend  and  strong  protector,  one  who,  with 
warm  heart  and  open  hand,  was  always  ready  to  assist  the 
needy  and  lowly  among  them,  and  to  help  them  in  becoming 
good  and  useful  citizens  of  the  country  of  their  adoption ;  and 
be  it  further 

Resolved,  That  the  President  appoint  a  committee,  to  con- 
sist of  himself,  the  Vice-President  and  three  directors,  to 
attend  the  funeral  of  the  late  departed  ;  that  a  copy  of  these 
resolutions  be  forwarded  to  the  bereaved  family  of  the  deceased 
and  that  as  a  further  mark  of  respect  the  meeting  do  now 
adjourn. 

(Signed),  Michael  Ginzburg, 

Adolph  M.  Radin,  President.  Jacob  Phillips, 

Isidore  D.  Morrison,  Vice-Pres.         J.  D.  Eisenstein. 

Committee. 


HEBREW   TECHNICAL   INSTITUTE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Hebrew 
Technical  Institute,  held  May  r3th,  1894.  the  following  pream- 
ble and  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Whereas^  In  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  the  Hebrew 
Technical  Institute  mourns  the  loss  of  a  most  interested  and 
devoted  member  and  friend  ;  therefore, 

Resolved^  That  it  is  a  simple  but  just  tribute  to  his  memory 
to  record  our  high  appreciation  of  his  character  and  life.  To 
the  community  at  large,  his  name  was  the  equivalent  for  honor 


70  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

and  integrity,  and  those  whose  privilege  it  was  to  be  associated 
with  him  admired  and  loved  him  for  his  admirable  qualities  of 
heart  and  mind,  for  his  generous  instincts  and  timely  and 
appropriate  advice.  Until  recently  a  member  of  the  Board, 
and  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  an  active  member  of  the 
Society,  he  had  its  aims  and  mission  thoroughly  at  heart,  and 
no  more  regrettable  loss  can  be  sustained  by  the  Hebrew 
Technical  Institute  than  tliat  occasioned  by  the  death  of  its 
friend  and  helper,  Jesse  Seligman. 

Resolved^  That  we  tender  to  his  family  our  condolence  in 
this  bereavement,  and  cause  an  engrossed  copy  of  these  reso- 
lutions to  be  presented  to  them  as  a  slight  but  visible  evidence 
of  our  sympathy. 

(Signed)        James  H.  Hoffman,  President. 
Jos.  Wetzler,  Secretary. 


NEV/  YORK  OPHTHALMIC  AND  AURAL  INSTITUTE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  New  York 
Ophthalmic  and  Aural  Institute,  held  on  Tuesday,  May  22d, 
1894,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted: 

It  is  with  profound  sorrow  that  we  are  called  upon  to  record 
the  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  an  esteemed  associate  in 
this  Board  of  Trustees,  and  for  many  years  a  personal  friend 
to  every  member. 

From  the  incorporation  of  our  Institute,  the  interest  of  Mr. 
Seligman  in  everything  pertaining  to  its  welfare  was  conspicu- 
ous and  sincere.  Wise  in  counsel,  public-spirited  as  a  citizen, 
and  liberal  in  promoting  whatever  commended  itself  to  his 
judgment,  his  name  has  become  so  identified  with  many  of 
our  city's  noblest  charities  that  his  loss  will  be  mourned  by 
many  who  have  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  his  generous  sympathy 
and  benevolence. 

We  desire  to  enter  this  minute  upon  our  records,  and  for- 
ward a  copy  to  his  bereaved  family,  with  the  expression  of  our 
sincere  condolence. 

(Signed)         Wm.  A.  Wheelock,  President. 
GusTAv  H.  Schwab,  Secteiary. 


RESOLUTIONS  71 


CENTRAL   COMMITTEE    OF   THE    BARON   DE   HIRSCH 

FUND. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Baron  de  Hirsch 
Fund,  held  on  Sunday,  April  2gth,  1894,  the  following  minute 
m  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman,  late  Treasurer  of  the  Fund,  was 
unanimously  adopted  : 

The  Trustees  of  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund  mourn  the  loss 
of  their  esteemed  and  beloved  colleague,  Jesse  Seligman,  who 
has  been  Trustee  and  Treasurer  of  the  Fund  since  its  organi- 
jzation,  and  whose  personality  so  essentially  aided  in  the 
initiation  and  direction  of  its  work. 

To  a  sense  of  the  public  sorrow  upon  the  death  of  Mr. 
Seligman,  identified  as  he  was  for  a  generation  with  the  pro- 
gress of  our  city  and  its  great  charities  and  enterprises,  there 
is  added  our  individual  grief  as  friends  and  associates. 

Our  departed  colleague  possessed  the  rare  combination  of 
tact,  sagacity,  kindliness  and  fidelity  to  principle.  His  coun- 
sel was  wise  and  timely ;  his  interest  in  humanitarian  work 
was  sincere  and  profound,  while  his  good  judgment  and  tem- 
perament always  fitted  him  for  prompt  and  wise  decision,  no 
less  than  for  clear  appreciation  of  the  duty  to  conciliate  and 
harmonize  conflicting  views,  giving  to  the  cause  of  benevolence 
the  inestimable  benefit  of  his  srreat  exoerience  and  business 

O  i- 

capacity.  These  qualities,  which  claimed  for  him  universal 
respect  and  affection,  he  displayed  in  a  high  degree  as  a 
Trustee  of  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund.  New  questions 
involving  the  direction  and  success  of  the  Fund  addressed 
themselves  to  his  earnest  and  prudential  study,  and  were 
patiently  solved. 

He  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  future  of  the  Russian  emigrant 
Jew,  of  those  innate  good  qualities  which  in  a  short  time  would 
raise  him  above  the  level  to  which  he  had  been  forced  by  a 
cruel  government,  and  thus  enable  him  to  become  a  devoted 
citizen  of  our  free  and  happy  land. 

It  was  this  intense  feeling  of  patriotism  and  confidence  that 
cheered  those  who  were  oftimes  incHned  to  despondency, 
because  of  the  magnitude  and  vicissitudes  of  the  heavy  charge 


72  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

laid  upon  the  Trustees  of  the  Fund,  and  gave  them  abiding 
hope,  now  thankfully  realized. 

He  was  kind  and  sympathetic  to  all  men.  To  those  who 
were  in  misfortune  he  was  especially  devoted,  and  to  them  he 
gave  the  fullest  share  of  his  sympathetic  attention  and  gener- 
ous help.  This  was  apparent  not  only  in  his  active  participa- 
tion in  the  work  of  this  Fund,  in  his  devotion  to  the  welfare 
of  the  orphan  children,  but  in  the  innumerable  acts  of 
benevolence  he  performed. 

The  goodness  of  his  heart  was  mirrored  in  his  genial  face, 
and  he  attracted  to  whatever  cause  he  espoused  the  hearty 
co-operation  of  others  who  were  inspired  by  his  enthusiasm 
for  good   his  untiring  energy  and  hopefulness. 

The  community  of  which  he  was  so  eminent  a  member,  the 
city  with  whose  development  he  was  so  prominently  identified, 
and  the  country  to  which  he  was  able  to  render  such  patriotic 
service,  have  all  reason  to  be  grateful  for  the  exemplary  life 
and  distinguished  services  of  Jesse  Seligman. 

Our  appreciation  of  the  loss  sustained  by  Mr.  Seligman's 
death  cannot  be  fittingly  manifested  at  this  time,  for  it  is  yet 
too  recent  and  too  overwhelming. 

It  is  a  consolation,  however,  that  he  had  almost  attained 
fulness  of  years,  and  surely  the  acquirement  of  happiness 
rarely  accorded  to  man,  which  was  made  possible  by  the  love 
of  a  devoted  wife  and  family,  the  good-will  and  respect  of 
his  fellow-citizens,  and  the  consciousness  that  he  had  freely 
given  of  his  well-earned  store  to  aid  his  suffering  fellow-beings- 

We  extend  our  heartfelt  sympathies  to  his  grief  stricken 
wife  and  children,  united  with  the  hope  that  they  will  find 
consolation  in  the  noble  career,  resplendent  with  high  ideals 
and  excellent  deeds,  which  will  ever  enshrine  the  memory  of 
their  beloved  husband  and  father. 

Mv£R  S.  Isaacs,  Pi  esident.       J.  Goldman,  Hon.  Secretary. 
Jacob  H.  Schiff,  Vice-Pres.     Emanuel  Lehman,  ^^z.  Treas. 

James  H.  Hoffman,  Oscar  S.  Straus, 

Wm.  B.  Hackenburg,  Mayer  Sulzberger, 

Henry  Rice,  A.  S.  Solomons,  G.  A. 

Ti  ustus 


RESOLUTIONS  72 « 

-^■'^  UNION   LEAGUE   CLUB. 

At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Union  League  Club,  held  on 
the  loth  day  of  May,  1894,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  Jesse  Seligman  was  for  twenty-six  years, 
and  until  recently,  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club;  that 
he  was  loyal  and  devoted  to  the  interests,  honor  and  useful- 
ness of  the  Club,  courteous  and  warm-hearted  in  his  personal 
intercourse,  responsive  to  every  demand  of  patriotism  and 
public  spirit,  sympathetic  and  generous  to  every  call  of 
humanity,  and  wise  and  high-minded  in  his  counsels. 

His  character  elevates  our  conception  of  the  possibilities 
of  human  nature.  His  memory  will  be  an  honored  and  cher- 
ished tradition  of  the  Union  League  Club. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolutions  be  trans- 
mitted to  his  family,  and  furnished  to  the  press  for  publication. 

Horace  Porter,  Prtsident. 
Geo.  Bethune  Adams,  Secretary. 


LADIES'    BIKUR   CHOLIM   SOCIETY. 

Mrs.  Jesse  Seligman,  City. 

Dear  Madam  : — In  compHance  with  the  resolution  passed 
by  the  Board  of  Directors,  it  becomes  my  sad  duty  to  express 
its  deep-felt  inmost  sympathy,  and  to  offer  you  and  your 
family  its  sincere  condolence  for  the  bereavement  occasioned 
by  the  loss  of  a  beloved  and  dear  husband,  father,  and  a 
friend  of  the  poor. 

The  Board  prays  that  the  merciful  Ruler  of  destinies  may 
shed  into  your  so  deeply  wounded  hearts,  the  balm  of  hea- 
venly consolation,  and  through  the  portals  of  your  doors 
sorrow  may  never  enter  again. 

I  remain,  with  great  sympathy, 

Yours  respectfully, 

A.  P.  Politzer, 

Assistant  Secretary. 
By  order  of  the  President. 


"]2b  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

REPUBLICAN   COUNTY   COMMITTEE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Republican  County  Committee  of  the 
County  of  New  York,  held  on  Monday  evening,  May  14th, 
1S94,  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  unanimously 
adopted : 

Whereas^  Jesse  Sehgman  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  at  all  times  patriotically  responded  to 
his  party's  calls  ;  and 

Whereas,  His  sterling  and  never-wavering  republicanism 
reflected  his  sincere  political  convictions  and  intense  love  for 
his  adopted  country  ;  and 

Whereas,  in  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  the  Republican 
party  and  the  nation  have  lost  a  man  who  exemplified  by  his 
life  the  highest  type  of  American  citizenship, 

Resolved,  By  the  Republican  County  Committee  of  the 
County  of  New  York,  that  by  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  this 
country  has  lost  one  of  its  foremost  citizens  and  the  Republi- 
can party  a  most  unselfish,  inteUigent  and  wise  leader ;  and 
further 

Resolved^  That  the  hfe  of  Jesse  Seligman  is  a  book  whereon 
is  written  encouragement  to  the  most  lowly,  and  to  the  foreign- 
born  as  well  as  the  native-born  citizen,  that  the  good  citizen 
and  patriotic  does  not  live  in  vain,  and  dies  leaving  his  coun- 
try his  grateful  debtor  ;  and  furtJier 

Resolved,  That  the  Republicans  of  the  County  of  New  York 
extend  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  their  most  sincere  assur- 
ances of  heartfelt  sympathy. 

Wm.  Brookfield,  President. 

Wm.  H.  Ten  Eyck,  Secretary. 


The  Committee  of  Thirty's  sub-committee  on  organization 
adopted  the  follov/ing  resolutions  on  the  death  of  Jesse 
Seligman : 

The  sudden  death  of  our  fellow-member,  Jesse  Seligman, 
removes  an  earnest  and  patriotic  citizen  from  a  sphere  of  use- 
fulness in  which  he  had  been  active  for  half  a  century.  Loyal 
to  his  faith,  his  country,  his  family,  his  friends  and  his  political 


RESOLUTIONS  72^ 

party,  his  industrious  life  has  been  a  model  and  an  example. 
Always  a  fearless  champion  of  good  government  and  an 
implacable  foe  to  fraud  or  corruption  in  any  shape,  this  com- 
mittee feels  honored  by  his  cordial  approval  of  their  course, 
and  know  no  v/ords  in  which  fittingly  to  express  their  sorrow 
at  his  unexpected  demise. 

Resolved,  That  the  committee  attend  his  funeral  in  a  body. 

Resolved^  That  a  copy  of  this  minute  be  transmitted  to  the 
family  of  the  late  Jesse  Sehgman. 


The  Committee  of  Thirty  Republicans  of  the  Third  Assem- 
bly District  adopted  these  resolutions  : 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Divine  Providence  to  remove  from 
our  midst  Jesse  Seligman  ;  and 

Whereas,  Jesse  Seligman,  by  a  long  life  of  probity,  integrity 
and  honesty,  has  endeared  hmnself  to  the  citizens  of  the  com- 
munity in  which  he  lived,  and  by  his  liberal  gifts  to  all  worthy 
charities  has  extended  a  helping  hand  to  relieve  distress;  and 

Whereas^  Jesse  Seligman  in  his  lifetime  was  an  active  and 
conscientious  republican  ;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  By  the  republicans  of  the  Third  Assembly  Dis- 
trict, in  convention  assembled,  that  they  lament  the  death  of 
such  a  worthy  and  philanthropic  citizen  and  earnest  republi- 
can, and  extend  their  condolence  to  the  bereaved  family  of 
the  deceased. 


MONTEFIORE   HOME   LEAGUE, 
We,  the  officers  of  the  Young  Ladies'  and   Gentlemen's 
League  connected  with  the  Montefiore  Home,  on  behalf  of 
our  Association,  tender  to  the  bereaved  widow  and   family  of 
the  late  Jesse  Seligman  the  following  lines  expressive  of  our 
sympathy : 

Sorrowfully,  indeed,  we  learned  of  the  early  death  of  Jesse 
Sehgman,  America's  foremost  Jew. 

His  life's  work  was  a  sun  which  lighted  up  and  warmed  the 
dark,  cold  days  of  misery  for  so  many  of  his  fellow-men.  That 
sun  caused  to  grow  beautifully  and  luxuriantly  the  plant  of 
Hebrew  charity  and   philanthropy  in  the   country  where   he 


']2d  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

lived.  Our  Association  is  one  of  the  youngest  and  tenderest 
of  those  plants,  and  sadly  we  would  feel  his  absence ;  but  so 
intensely  and  so  gloriously  did  it  shine  that  the  warmth  will 
continue  its  nourishment  until  the  sun,  which  seemed  to  set 
in  the  far  west,  will  again  rise  beyond  the  earth's  horizon. 

Irene  M.  Rothschild,  President. 
Helen  J.  Offenbach,  Vice-President. 
Alfred  L.   M.  Bullowa,  Vice-President. 
Amelia  Simon,  becreiary. 
Mareis  J.  LuDwiG,  Treasurer. 
LuciEN  L.  l^ONHEUR,  Chairman. 


LEBANON   HOSPITAL  ASSOCIATION. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  this  Association,  held  on  Sunday, 
April  29th,  1894,  the  following  resolutions  were  unanimously 
passed : 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  the  Almighty  to  take  from  us  the 
good  and  patriotic  and  benevolent  friend  from  our  midst, 
Jesse  Seligman,  one  who  at  all  times  looked  after  the  poor 
and  distressed,  he  who  was  the  father  of  our  noblest  institu- 
tion, the  care  of  the  orphans,  one  who  was  foremost  in  all 
charities,  no  matter  of  which  creed  or  denomination  they 
came.  We  tender  our  sympathy  to  the  wife  and  family  of  our 
beloved  friend.      May  they  bear  their  loss  with  fortitude. 

Resolved.,  That  a  copy  of  this  resolution  be  sent  to  the 
family  of  the  deceased. 

Jonas  Weil,  President. 

M.  Peabodv,  Vice-President. 


THE   R.    T.    LINCOLN   CLUB. 
Resolutions  of  condolence  ofifered  by  M.  A.  Clinton  : 
Whereas,  The  Almighty  has  chosen  to  take  from  our  midst 
that  great  patriot,  loyal  citizen  and  grand  republican,   Jesse 
Seligman,  and  deemed  it  wise  that  his  life-work  should  close; 
and 

Whereas,  The  example  of  the  acts  of  this  man's  life — his 
rise  from  the  humble  walks  of  life  to  the  highest,  his  deeds  of 
charity,  his    unswerving   support   to  the    Union   and  to  the 


RESOLUTIONS  ']2e 

Republican  party  are  to  our  party  a  great  loss ;  therefore, 
be  it 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  R.  T.  Lincoln 
Club,  express  our  sorrow  at  this  loss  to  us  and  to  the  bereaved 
family,  and  sympathize  in  the  hour  of  their  affliction  at  the 
passing  away  of  one  whose  life-work  has  been  crowned  with 
good  deeds. 

Resolved.  That  we  extend  to  the  family  our  sincere  regrets  ; 
and  the  blow  has  been  tempered  with  the  knowledge  that 
whatever  he  accomplished  was  well  done,  and  his  acts  are  a 
monument,  enduring  forever. 

Resolved,  That  the  President  and  Secretary  be  empowered 
to  convey  to  the  family  a  copy  of  the  above  resolutions. 

Melville  A.  Clinton. 


REPUBLICAN   ASSOCIATION,   TWENTY-FOURTH 
ASSEMBLY   DISTRICT. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Republican  organization  of  the  Twenty - 
fourth  Assembly  District,  held  on  May  9th,  1894,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted  : 

Whereas,  Divine  Providence  has  removed  from  our  midst 
Jesse  Seligman,  a  loyal  republican  and  a  patriot,  who  was 
at  the  front  with  his  aid  to  our  nation  in  her  distress,  a  friend 
of  the  poor,  and  a  good  man, 

Resolved,  That  we,  the  members  of  the  Twenty-fourth 
Assembly  District  Association,  do  feel  this  loss  with  the  party 
at  large,  and  sympathize  with  the  family  in  their  great 
bereavement. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  transmitted 
by  the  Secretary  to  the  members  of  the  family. 

Thomas  G.  Wilkins,  Secretary, 


TEMPLE  AHAWATH   CHESED. 

At  a  general  meeting  of  the  members  and  the  Board  of 
Trustees,  held  at  the  Temple  on  April  29th  and  May  2d,  1894, 
respectively,  taking  notice  of  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the 


72/  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

sad  news  was  received  and  echoed  by  eulogistic  expressions 
of  sorrow  worthy  of  the  hfe,  character  and  good  name  of  the 
departed. 

Each  and  every  member  of  the  congregation  feels  keenly 
the  irreparable  loss  which  J  udaism  and  humanity  at  large  has 
sustained,  and  the  high  esteem  in  which  his  honored  name 
was  held. 

We  tender  you  our  sincere  sympathy  in  this  your  great  sor- 
row, which  is  shared  by  the  whole  community,  and,  with  you, 
we  invoke  the  blessings  of  an  All- merciful  Father,  that  He 
may  accept  that  soul  in  His  paternal  keeping,  into  the  fellow- 
ship of  those  who  live  eternally  before  God  and  enjoy  the 
splendor  of  His  divine  glory. 

By  order  of  the  President  and  the  Board. 

A.  R.  Altmayer,  Hov.  Sec.  Acting. 


THE   BANK   OF   NEW  AMSTERDAM. 
Whereas^  The  Directors  of  the  Bank  of  New  Amsterdam 
have  heard  with  deep  regret  of  the  death  of  their  late  associate, 
Jesse  Seligman, 

Resolved.^  That  we  tender  to  the  family  of  the  deceased  our 
heartfelt  sympathy  for  them  in  their  great  bereavement. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  we  have 
lost  an  esteemed  associate,  whose  probity  of  character  and 
personal  worth  can  be  best  expressed  by  us  by  quotmg  his 
own  words,  viz.  :  "■  My  success,  whatever  it  has  been,  I  attri- 
bute, first,  to  the  fact  that  I  had  the  good  foitune  to  become 
a  citizen  of  this  great  republic,  under  whose  beneficent  laws 
the  poor  and  the  rich,  irrespective  of  race  or  creed,  have  equal 
opportunities  of  education  and  material  prosperity ;  secondly, 
to  the  fact  that  I  have  always  endeavored  to  extract  some- 
thing good  rather  than  evil  from  everything  that  has  come 
before  me,  which  has  had  the  effect  of  making  lighter  the 
cares  and  tribulations  of  this  life." 

Resolved.,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  the  minute. 

book  of  the  bank,  and  a  copy  sent  to  his  family. 

•  Thos.  C.  Acton,  President. 

Frank  Tilford.  Vice-President. 
N.  J.  H.  Edge,  Cashier. 


RESOLUTIONS  ']2g 

PUPILS   OF   THE   PIEBREW  TECHNICAL   INSTITUTE. 
To  the  Family  of  Jesse  Seligman  : 

We,  the  pupils  of  the  Hebrew  Technical  Institute,  beg  to 
offer  to  you  the  expression  of  our  heartfelt  sympathy  in  the 
bereavement  that  has  come  upon  you. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  a  kind  and  generous  patron  of  our 
school— always  deeply  interested  in  our  welfare,  and  sohcitous 
for  our  best  interests. 

We  realize  that  a  benefactor  and  friend  has  been  taken 
from  us,  and  we  desire  to  make  known  to  you  our  apprecia- 
tion of  the  noble  qualities  and  many  virtues  of  the  one  who 
has  passed  away. 

We,  therefore,  trust  that  you  will  accept  these  words  as  a 

token  of  the  exalted  esteem  in  which  we  shall  ever  hold  the 

memory  of  the  departed. 

Very  respectfully, 

Louis  Freund,  Chairman. 
Solomon  Lowrie, 
Samuel  N.  Tenefsky, 
Henry  Ehrlich, 
M.  Freedman, 

Committee. 


%n  tUz  'gxxXpiX, 


In  every  synagogue  or  temple,  uptown  or  downtown,  fitting 
reference  was  made  either  on  Friday  or  Saturday  to  the  death 
of  Mr.  Seligman. 

Dr.    Kohler    said  on    Saturday  at    Temple  Beth-El :     In 
Jesse  Seligman  our  Jewish  community  lost  a  representative 
American  Jew  of  the  noblest  type  and  the  highest  excellence. 
He,  too,  came  over  to  these  hospitable  shores  with  nothing 
but    the   pilgrim's    staff  in   his  hand    and   a    fine   ambition, 
prompted,  as  is  natural,  by  self-interest.     Yet  how  grandly 
did  every  successful  endeavor  in  his  hands  turn  into  a  source 
of  blessing,  of  comfort  and  aid  to  others.     His  was  the  right 
faith  in  God  and   in  man,  in  humanity  and  in  one  glorious 
Republic.     When   many  about    him  and   near   him   became 
skeptics,    he   remained   a   loyal    Jew,  and   never   missed    an 
opportunity  of  asserting  proudly  that  he  was  of  that  salt  of 
humanity  which  defies  corruption — that  he  was  a  Jew.     His 
name  will  be  forever  identified  with  the  great  Jewish  institu- 
tions which  he  was  so  energetic  in  creating  and  so  faithful  in 
maintaining.     Particularly  did  he  build  to  himself  a  lasting 
memorial  in  our  Orphan  Asylum,  the  proud  ornament  of  our 
New  York  community,  which,  but  for  his  never-faltering  zeal, 
would   never   have   reached  this   state  of    grandeur  and  of 
extensive  usefulness.     He  loved  the  orphans  with  a  fatherly 
heart.     The  Asylum  was,  indeed,  his  second  home.     He  was 
never  happier  than  when  he  was  there.     But  his  charity  was 
the  right  kind.     He  preferred  the  spirit  of  helpfulness  to  that 
of  ostentatious  and  humiliating  bestowal  of  gifts.     Many  a 
tear  will  flow  for  Jesse  Seligman  unseen,  many  a  poor  family 
v/ill  weep  in  secret  because  they  lost  a  generous-hearted  sup- 
porter, who  would  often  not  let  the  left  hand  see  what  the 
right  hand  gave.     Jesse  Seligman 's  name  became  a  household 
name  to  the  American  Jews  the  world  over.     He  reflected 
credit  on  them  as  very  few  did. 


74  JESSE  SEI^IGMAX 

At  the  West  End  Synagogue,  Rev.  Dr.  de  Sola  Mendes  said : 
Our  memorial  service  this  time  must  be  made  to  take  a  more 
extended  scope  than  its  accustomed  congregational  one,  by 
reason  of  the  recent  lamented  demise  of  a  man  whose  loss  is, 
indeed,  one  touching  the  whole  community  of  Israel.  He 
whose  death  the  other  day  was  flashed  to  us  from  far  off 
California,  deserved,  in  eminent  degree,  the  pang  of  regret 
which  ran  through  the  hearts  of  all  of  us  at  the  news.  So 
noble  a  man,  to  raise  himself,  by  his  unaided  exertions,  from 
penury  to  respected  affluence,  and,  withal,  retain  the  kindly 
heart  and  unselfish  spirit  which  marked  his  loving  philan- 
thropy ;  so  generous  a  man,  to  most  enjoy  his  position  and  the 
influence  his  genius  commanded  in  exerting  both  for  the  wel- 
fare of  the  afflicted  and  the  orphaned;  so  wise  a  man,  to 
know  that  not  his  wealth  and  not  his  power  earned  the  lasting 
respect  of  the  whole  community,  but  his  fidelity  to  his  people 
and  his  manifested  contempt  for  renegades  of  every  social 
rank,  entitle  Jesse  Seligman  to  a  reverent,  grateful  place  in 
our  "  Memorial  Service."  Accessible  and  courtly  to  all, 
modest  toward  man,  dutiful  toward  God,  loving  and  kind — of 
him,  in  truth,  the  old  adage  speaks,  when  it  says,  "  The 
memory  of  the  righteous  is  in  itself  an  added  blessing." 

Dr.  Harris,  of  Temple  Israel  of  Harlem,  made  the  life  of 
Jesse  Seligman  the  subject  of  his  weekly  address  to  the 
Religious  School  on  Sunday,  April  29th.  He  told  of  the 
remarkable  career  from  obscurity  to  affluence  and  honor.  He 
also  drew  some  valuable  lessons  from  the  life,  making  it  a 
type  of  what  integrity  and  mdustry  can  accomplish . 

Rev.  Rudolph  Grossman,  in  the  course  of  his  sermon  on 
Friday  evening,  in  Temple  Beth-El,  said  :  "  I  cannot  avoid, 
in  this  connection,  laying  a  wreath  of  immortelles,  woven 
out  of  the  flowers  of  regard,  as  sacred  to  the  memory  of  a  man 
who  has  recently  passed  through  the  shadows  of  the  grave. 
Jesse  Seligman,  while  in  life,  represented  the  true  spirit  of 
Judaism.  Whenever  called  upon  to  do  service  for  that  truth 
to  which  his  soul  clung,  he  was  at  his  post.     While  many 


IN  THE  PULPIT  75 

another,  even  of  those  nearest  to  him,  broke  the  bond  of 
fidelity  uniting  him  with  that  Jehovah  who  is  Israel's  glory; 
while  apostasy,  indifference  and  faithlessness  raged  about  him, 
he  stood  a  firm,  unyielding  man,  true  to  the  God  of  his  fathers. 
Though  walking  on  the  high  places  of  prosperity  and  wealth, 
he  found  time,  like  Moses,  to  go  forth  and  inquire  after  his 
people's  welfare.  The  orphan  and  the  widow  tound  in  him 
a  father  and  a  friend.  His  noble  heart  throbbed  with  sym- 
pathy for  the  outcast.  Actuated  by  that  sublime  spirit  of 
justice,  which  is  a  spark  from  the  fire  of  Sinai,  he  threw  all 
the  weight  of  his  influence,  all  the  ardor  of  his  enthusiasm,  all 
the  resources  of  his  fertile  brain  and  hand  into  his  efforts  for 
the  glorification  of  Israel  and  the  improvement  of  his  people.. 
The  God  whom  he  bad  learned  to  reverence  and  to  trust  on 
his  mother's  knee,  remained  his  staff  and  shield  when  sunned 
by  the  rays  of  wealth  and  power.  American  Judaism  has 
lost  in  him  a  staunch  advocate.  The  New  York  community 
has  been  stripped  of  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments.  The 
orphan,  the  poor,  the  friendless,  mingle  their  tears  with  ours. 
When  a  good  man  dies,  the  whole  world  is  reckoned  among 
his  mourners.  Every  truly  human  heart  is  smitten,  every 
home  is  darkened  by  the  shadow  of  affliction  when  a  righteous 
man  is  summoned  from  earth.  We  weep  with  his  family,  for 
Israel,  for  humanity  has  lost  in  him  a  true  friend.  May  his 
memory  be  an  inspiration.  May  he  in  death  teach  the  youth 
by  his  life  the  lesson  we  need  so  much  to  emphasize  in  our 

dav,  that  one  may  soar  to  the  highest  peaks  of  culture  and  of 
influence,  and  still  remain  a  Jew,  true  to  the  covenant  of 
Israel." 


IN    HONOR    OF     OUR     LATE     PRESIDENT, 
JESSE   SELIGMAN. 

Dr.  Herman  Baar,  the  Superintendent  of  the  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum,  spoke  the  following  words  before  the  chil- 
dren of  the  institution  :  We  read  in  the  festal  portion  of  this 
morning  the  following  sentence  (Exodus  xiii.  19):  "And 
Moses  took  the  bones  of  Joseph  with  him;  for  he  had  strictly 
sworn  the  children  of  Israel,  saying:  God  will  surely  remember 
you ;    and  ye  shall  carry  up  my  bones  away  hence  with  you. 


76  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

My  children  :  We  have  assembled  here  this  morning  to  do 
an  act  of  "  pietiit "  towards  one  who  was  suddenly  called 
away  this  week  from  this  earth,  and  who  was  much  endeared 
to  every  one  of  us.  You  know  I  allude  to  our  worthy  Presi- 
dent, the  late  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman.  All  of  us  have  lost  in  him 
a  true,  kind  and  affectionate  friend.  To  you,  my  children,  he 
was  a  loving  benefactor;  to  me  he  was,  although  my  Presi- 
dent, a  faithful  friend  and  counselor  whom  I  could  consult  in 
all  practical  questions  of  life  ;  to  the  poor  he  was  an  ever  ready 
sympathizer  and  helper  ;  to  the  refugee  a  real  comforter  ;  to 
his  adopted  country  a  noble  citizen,  and  to  our  brethren  in 
faith  a  most  liberal  and  attached  follower  of  our  much- 
cherished  creed. 

But  there  were  three  things  in  particular  which  I  so  much 
admired  in  him.  He  was,  above  all,  a  gentleman,  perfect  in 
tact  and  manner,  and  fine  in  feeling  and  sentiments!  He  was 
courteous  and  polite  towards  every  one,  and  he  spread  such  a 
noble  dignity  around  him  that  all  who  came  in  contact  with 
him  must  have  felt  that  gentle  and  sympathetic  touch  of  his 
soul.  Whatever  he  did.  he  did  it  with  the  fulness  of  his 
heart.  He  was  approachable  to  every  one ;  but  in  avoiding 
that  familiarity  with  which  other  persons  so  often  try  to  make 
themselves  known  -and  conspicuous,  he  strictly  kept  up  that 
reserve  and  authority  which  was  such  a  graceful  trait  in  his 
character.  I  have  often  seen  him  here  in  this  lecture-room 
during  divine  service,  and,  unlike  others,  who  are  continually 
restless  and  are  moving  to  and  fro  on  their  benches  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end  of  the  service,  he  constantly  kept  his 
Prayer-book  before  his  eyes,  and  attentively  and  uninterrupt- 
edly followed  all  the  divine  exercises.  Moreover,  as  is  the 
manner  of  the  real  gentleman,  his  way  of  judging  others  was 
always  in  the  mildest  way;  all  his  words  were  full  of  love, 
kindness  and  charity  towards  his  fellow-man.  There  was 
nothing  of  over-officiousness  in  him,  noticed  so  often  in  men 
of  his  kind.  He  had  a  keen  and  sharp  eye  for  everything 
wrong,  but  also  a  word  of  praise  and  approval  for  everything 
that  delighted  his  heart. 

The  second  thing  I  admired  so  much  in  him  was  that  patri- 
otic spirit — that  love  he  bore  towards  his  adopted  country.  It 


IN  THE  PULPIT  77 

is  only  natural  that  he  should  love  a  land  in  which  he,  "  as  a 
self-made  man,"  had  made  a  large  fortune.  But  yet  there  is 
still  a  difference  in  this  respect  between  one  man  and  the 
other.  We  know  of  wealthy  people  who,  having  accumulated 
masses  of  riches  here  in  this  country,  went  back  to  their  homes 
abroad  in  order  to  enjoy  their  fortune.  Such  would  have 
never  been  the  case  with  Jesse  Seligman.  He  was  really  an 
enthusiastic  admirer  of  this  country,  and  counted  the  most 
distinguished  men  of  this  land  among  his  friends.  Yes,  there 
was  no  one  who  stood  higher  in  the  eyes  of  the  Christian 
world  than  he  did — nay,  he  was  pointed  out  by  them  as  the 
representative  Israelite,  as  the  perfect  ideal  or  embodiment  of 
a  polished  gentleman.  And  even  this  last  year — a  year  full 
of  many  dismal  signs  and  dark  forebodings — could  by  no 
means  shake  or  upset  his  .bright  hopes  in  the  happy  political 
future  of  this,  his  adopted  country.  He  thought  that,  after 
the  commercial  crisis  had  passed  away,  this  land  would  rise 
again  to  a  greatness  and  prosperity  which  never  before  was 
seen. 

Thirdly:  I  greatly  admired  his  true  philanthropic  spirit. 
Benevolence  was  a  noble  passion  in  him  which  he  exercised 
with  so  much  beauty  of  soul.  He  was  especially  fond  of  you, 
my  children,  and  this  large  asylum,  which  was  erected  under 
his  worthy  presidency.  During  the  time  that  I  have  been 
with  you,  he  was  twice  abroad,  but  each  time  that  he  returned, 
and  when  he  had  scarcely  left  the  liarbor  and  steamship,  it 
was  to  you  he  took  his  first  walk  and  visit.  I  remember  that, 
when  this  house  was  built,  I  one  day  stood  with  him  and 
another  gentleman  upon  the  rough  boards  of  this  very  room 
in  which  I  now  speak  to  you.  In  making  a  few  remarks  to 
us,  he  then  said  :  "  I  felt  very  ill  for  some  time,  but  I  fer- 
vently prayed  to  my  Maker  to  preserve  me  and  keep  me  alive 
until  at  least  I  have  seen  the  completion  of  this  asylum."  He 
closely  inspected  every  child  when  he  entered  our  dining- 
room  on  Sundays.  He  was  a  strict  observer  of  all  things 
which  happened  around  him,  and  nothing  could  give  him 
greater  pleasure  than  to  see  the  children  enjoying  their  meals 
in  a  happy  and  cheerful  spirit.  His  charitable  heart,  however, 
was   everywhere.     He    showed   much  sympathy  and  zeal  for 


78  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

all  the  Hebrew  institutions  of  this  city,  and  there  was  indeed 
no  prominent  institution  where  his  familiar  face  was  not  seen 
at  the  annual  meeting.  He  also  took  a  great  interest  in  the 
Russian  Emigration,  and  was,  if  I  mistake  not,  the  Honorary 
Treasurer  of  the  Baron  Hirsch  Fund  ;  if  it  had  been  in  his 
power,  he  would  have  made  every  Russian  emigrant  happy, 
prosperous  and  comfortable. 

I,  personally,  shall  miss  him — shall  miss  him  very  much 
indeed.  His  deplorable  absence,  and  the  thought  of  never 
seeing  him  again,  will,  if  not  discouraging  me  in  my  labors, 
still  cast  a  heavy  gloom  over  the  work,  which  to  the  present 
day  I  have  so  cheerfully  performed.  I  shall  not  see  him  any 
more  on  those  Sundays,  in  which  he,  in  company  with  our 
worthy  chairman,  Mr.  Emanuel  Lehman,  both  linked  together" 
as  if  they  were  a  bridal  couple  of  cheering  benevolence  and 
humanity,  made  their  entrance  into  our  office  at  the  very 
stroke  of  lo  o'clock  in  the  morning.  It  seemed  as  if  he  had 
a  presentment  of  his  approaching  death.  In  a  letter,  as  well 
as  in  a  personal  conversation,  he  hinted  to  me  that  his  mission 
was  soon  over.  I  answered  him  facetiously,  saying,  "  Mr. 
Seligman,"  using  a  banking  term,  "  we  do  not  give  you  away 
under  par  !" 

My  children  :  Every  good  and  noble-hearted  man  leaves  to 
posterity  a  kind  of  mental  bequest.  So  our  dear  President, 
Mr.  Seligman  did.  To  you,  my  children,  he  left  his  active, 
industrious  and  honorable  spirit ;  to  our  religion,  his  unswerv- 
ing attachment  and  faithfulness,  to  his  adopted  country,  his 
pure  and  patriotic  mind,  to  our  charitable  institutions,  his 
large  and  benevolent  heart,  to  our  citizens,  his  good  common 
sense  and  practical  judgment,  and  to  his  household — that  is, 
to  his  noble  wife  and  dear  daughters,  to  his  amiable  sons  and 
to  all  the  different  members  of  his  united  family,  a  name  and 
reputation,  a  character  and  standing,  vvhich,  not  being  sur- 
passed by  any  one,  seeks  his  ec^ual  in  the  large  dominions  of 
this  glorious  country.  You  know  the  old  story  of  Nathan  the 
Wise,  leaving  each  of  his  three  sons  a  precious  ring  which 
had  the  power  to  make  them  beloved,  pleasant  and  agreeable 
in  the  eyes  of  God  and  man  !  Such  a  ring  was  also  left  by  the 
dying  father  to  his  three  sons,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  in 


AT  THE  TECHNICAL  INSTITUTE  79 

keeping  this  ring  and  guarding  it  as  their  dearest  heirloom' 
they  will  thoroughly  work  in  their  late  father's  spirit  and  way 
of  action,  in  their  father's  character  and  mode  of  life. 

My  children  :  May  the  remembrance  of  our  dear  President, 
Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  be  blessed  for  ever  and  ever. 


AT    THE    HEBREW    TECHNICAL    INSTITUTE. 

On  Wednesday  of  last  week,  while  the  funeral  of  Jesse 
Seligman  was  taking  place  at  Temple  Emanu-El,  the  pupils 
of  the  above  Institution  were  gathered  in  their  assembly-room 
and  addressed  by  Mr.  Barney,  the  principal.  He  spoke,  in 
part,  as  follows: 

We  are  assembled  here  to-day  to  pay  a  last  tribute  of 
respect  to  the  memory  of  a  kind  friend  who  is  no  more.  While 
it  is  not  our  privilege  to  be  present  at  the  service  in  the 
Temple  Emanu-El,  nor  to  stand  with  those  who  bend  to  take 
a  last  look  at  the  face  of  one  whose  early  life  is  ended,  still 
there  is  left  for  us  a  worthy  part  in  reviewing  his  career,  and 
drawing  from  it  many  lessons  of  wisdom  for  the  future. 

Leaving  his  home  at  a  very  early  age,  he  followed  his 
brothers  to  America,  and  entered  the  battle  of  Hfe.  We  have 
not  heard  the  story  of  his  childhood's  home,  nor  of  the  influ- 
ences that  surrounded  him  there  ;  but  we  can  believe,  from 
all  his  subsequent  doings,  that  his  most  youthful  days  were 
spent  among  associations  favorable  for  good  results. 

We  hear  of  him  beginning  his  business  course  as  a  merchant 
in  the  most  unassuming  departments.  We  hear  of  his  success- 
ful efforts,  and  we  learn  with  astonishment  of  his  having 
been  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  the  proprietor  of  an  estabhsh- 
ment,  with  two  clerks  in  his  employ. 

In  the  dark  days  in  the  history  of  California,  when  disorder 
and  confusion  reigned  throughout  all  the  settled  districts, 
particularly  in  the  city  of  San  Francisco,  we  hear  of  him  as 
one  who  spared  no  time  or  trouble  to  help  to  create  a  stable 
and  creditable  form  of  governm.ent. 

Our  great  and  glorious  leader,  General  Ul3'sses  S.  Grant, 
was  proud  to  own  the  friendship  of  Mr.  Seligman,  who  was 
known  and  valued  as  the  personal  friend  of  most  of  the  men 


8o  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

of  distinction  in  Congress  and  in  civil  life  during  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion;  and  at  the  close  of  the  great  struggle,  when  the 
National  Treasury  was  in  a  sadly  exhausted  condition,  it  was 
Mr.  Seligman  who  went  to  the  Old  World,  and  succeeded, 
finally,  in  placing  the  United  States  bonds  upon  the  markets 
of  Europe,  notwithstanding  the  evident  reluctance  of  the 
foreign  exchanges. 

He  rose  to  a  position  of  great  eminence  in  the  eyes  of  the 
nation;  his  counsel  was  sought  by  those  who  held  in  trust  the 
financial  affairs  of  our  country,  and  his  advice  was  accepted  as 
that  of  a  far  seeing,  prudent,  reliable  and  strictly  honest  man. 
It  has  been  said  of  him  that  he  never  really  failed  in  any 
undertaking.  His  belief  in  the  stability  of  American  institu- 
tions never  wavered. 

To  day.  as  he  lies  still  and  pale  in  death,  there  is  no  voice 
to  condemn  him  for  any  acts  of  unfair  dealings  ;  no  harsh  and 
bitter  man  attributes  to  his  agency  the  ruin  of  fair  prospects  ; 
no  widow  and  no  children  complain  that  he  has  robbed  them 
of  their  inheritance.  On  the  contrary,  he  was  the  friend  of 
the  needy  and  of  the  afflicted.  His  kindness  of  heart  and  pity 
for  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  were  without  limit. 

He  was  the  friend  of  education.  Not  merely  a  liberal  sub- 
scriber toward  the  support  of  the  Hebrew  Technical  Institute, 
he  served  as  a  director  for  a  long  period  of  time. 

When  we  visit  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  and  the 
Museum  of  Natural  History,  we  shall  remember  with  pride 
that  Mr.  Seligman  has  filled  the  office  of  trustee  of  both  those 
institutions.  When  we  read  of  the  investigations  and  delib- 
erations of  the  Geographical  Society,  we  shall  recall  that  our 
friend  was  a  member  of  that  body. 

When  President  Harrison  wished  to  select  a  representative 
whom  he  might  send  abroad  to  make  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  an  International  Bi-metallism  Congress,  his  choice 
fell  upon  Mr.  Seligman  as  the  person  to  execute  the  mission. 

It  is  only  a  few  years  since  our  citizens  were  called  to  mourn 
the  loss  of  that  great  and  good  man,  Peter  Cooper.  In  com- 
paring the  history  of  these  two  men,  we  find  a  wonderful 
similarity  in  many  points.  Both  were  early  in  the  field  of 
action;  both  were  called  to  pass  through   periods  of  extreme 


AT  THE  ASYLUM  8 1 

anxiety  and  unremitting  toil;  both  of  them  gained  the  summit 
of  fortune's  height,  but  were  not  content  to  rest  there,  while 
their  fellow-creatures  were  struggling  and  ready  to  succumb 
with  the  discouragements  that  ever  attend  the  path  of  all  who 
ascend  above  the  common  level. 

How  much  more  worthy  of  emulation  were  the  lives  of 
these  two  noble-hearted  workers  for  humanity  than  the  record 
left  behind  them  by  so  many  of  the  self-seeking,  purse-proud 
men  who  have  also  risen  slowly  by  their  own  exertions,  and 
then,  if  they  have  not  actually  placed  stumbling-blocks  and 
temptations  in  the  way  of  other  mortals  less  favored  than 
themselves,  still  they  have  never  extended  a  helping  hand. 

Toward  the  people  of  his  race,  the  benefactions  of  Mr. 
Sehgman  were  countless  ;  toward  the  welfare  of  his  adopted 
country,  his  services  were  of  inestimable  value.  He  has  left 
to  his  family  the  priceless  legacy  of  an  unspotted  character-  — 
a  name  above  reproach,  and  the  infinite  consolation  of  know- 
ing that  no  clouds  of  darkness,  the  result  of  misdeeds  done  in 
secret,  can  ever  arise  to  chadow  his  fair  fame.  The  pupils  of 
this  Institute  have  cause  to  think  of  him  with  grateful  feehngs 
and  with  words  of  praise. 

Let  his  name,  when  spoken  among  us,  be  heard  with 
respect.  Let  us  strive  to  imitate  his  virtues  and  profit  by  his 
example. 


AT  THE  ORPHAN  ASYLUM  MEETING. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan 
Asylum  Society  was  to  have  been  held  on  Sunday,  April  29th, 
and  a  large  number  of  gentlemen  and  a  sprinkling  of  ladies 
were  present.  The  entrance  to  the  buildmg  was  tastefully 
draped,  and  the  flag  was  at  half-mast.  The  synagogue, 
wherein  the  meeting  was  to  be  held,  was  also  draped,  a 
picture  of  the  late  Mr.  Seligraan  stood  upon  the  platform. 
and  the  vacant  chair  he  usually  occupied  was  hung  in  black 
also. 

Mr.  Henry  Rice,  the  Vice-President,  called  the  meeting  to 
order,  and  delivered  a  feehng  address  on  the  loss  the  institu- 
tution  has  sustained.     He  said  : 


83  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

Address  of  Mr.  Henry  Rice. 

For  many  years,  this  day  has  been  one  of  pleasure  to  you 
and  all  of  us.  You  have  come  year  after  year,  knowing  that 
you  would  meet  the  genial  face  of  your  President,  Jesse  Selig- 
man,  who  in  his  own  heart  rejoiced  with  you,  as  he  so  ably 
unrolled  the  history  of  each  year  the  work  of  your  Society,  and 
showmg  its  continued  prosperous  and  active  career,  a  blessing 
to  the  Orphan  ;  to-day  it  is  different.  An  inscrutable  Provi- 
dence has  taken  our  much  beloved  President  to  his  eternal 
home,  and  sadness  and  grief  have  taken  the  place,  and  the 
empty  chair  draped  and  other  tokens  of  mourning,  only  too 
plainly  show  how  conditions  have  changed. 

Jeese  Seligman,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  charitable  communal 
work  in  this  city,  died  last  week,  and  his  mortal  remains  are 
now  coming  from  the  Pacific  slope,  to  find  rest  and  quiet  in 
consecrated  ground.  Would  that  I  were  able  to  give  expres- 
sion to  my  own  feeling,  in  words  of  burning  eloquence,  to  say 
how  dearly  we  all  loved  this  man,  and  how  we  shall  cherish 
his  memory,  as  long  as  the  breath  of  life  will  permit  us.  It 
has  been  my  great  pleasure  to  be  associated  with  him  in  the 
administration  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  and  during  that  entire  time,  no  word,  sign  or  action  of 
our  dead  President  ever  indicated  anything  but  a  high-toned, 
noble  and  philanthropic  gentleman,  the  peer  of  the  noblest 
and  best  in  the  land.  He  was  ever  the  fearless  advocate  of 
right  and  the  champion  of  the  weak  and  oppressed  — a  friend 
to  all  mankind.  For  his  home  and  family  he  had  the 
deepest  affection,  but  the  same  soft  and  sweet  sides  of  life 
were  unstintedly  given  to  the  inmates  of  our  Asylum.  To  his 
co-workers  he  was  a  companion,  the  partner  in  every  joy,  the 
comforter  in  every  sorrow.  He  has  been  taken  away  much 
too  early  in  life  for  us,  and  yet  his  life  in  good  works  has  been 
full  and  complete.  His  was  a  great  nature,  far  more  perfect 
than  that  of  the  average  man.  He  has  gone  through  sorrow, 
through  fire  and  flood,  through  the  thunder  of  battle,  ripening* 
sweetening,  enlarging,  proving  finer  and  finer,  gentler  and 
gentler,  the  result  of  great  strength  accumulated  through  an 
active  life,  and,  like  our  great  national  leader,  Abraham  Lin- 
coln, ever  for  his  guiding  star  the  memorable  motto,  ''  With 


AT   THE   ASYLUM  83 

charity  towards  all,  with  malice  towards  none.''  At  the  end 
of  his  useful  life  he  stands  before  us  as  the  sun  of  a  summer 
afternoon,  full  of  life,  warmth  and  illuminating  power.  There 
is  nothing  more  beautiful  than  such  a  life.  To  him  a  man 
signified  a  brother,  one  from  whom  the  generous  hand  of 
fellowship  could  never  be  withheld.  To  his  friends,  he  was 
always  the  genial,  warm,  outspoken  man,  whose  constitutional 
serenity  and  cheerfulness  were  ever  the  same,  yet  he  never 
feared  to  meet  any  emergency,  and  was  ever  ready  and  eager 
to  sink  his  own  personality  in  the  interest  or  need  or  a  fellow- 
creature.  He  was  not  one  to  falter  because  of  difficulty ; 
above  all  things,  he  loved  liberty  of  thought  and  speech,  and 
whatever  he  claimed  in  this  direction  for  himself  he  was  wiUing 
to  accord  to  others. 

The  eminent  virtues  of  the  man — first,  his  personal  integ- 
rity ;  second,  his  loyalty  to  his  adopted  country  ;  third,  the 
fealty  to  his  race  ;  fourth,  his  philanthropic  and  charitable 
nature — will  ever  stand  as  his  monument,  far  greater  than 
could  be  engraven  by  any  human  sculptor. 

His  magic  was  not  far  to  seek. 
He  was  so  human ;    whether  strong  or  weak. 
Far  from  his  kind  he  never  sank  or  soared, 
But  sat  an  equal  guest  at  every  board. 
No  beggar  ever  felt  him  condescend. 
Nor  prince  presume;  himself  he  always  bore 
At  manhood's  simple  level,  and  wherever 
He  met  a  stranger,  there  he  left  a  friend. 

Mr.  A.  J,  Dittenhoefer  then  arose  and  moved  that,  in  view 
of  the  death  of  the  President  of  the  institution,  no  business 
be  transacted,  and  that  the  meeting  adjourn  subject  to  the 
call  of  the  Board  of  Trustees.  In  making  this  motion,  Mr. 
Dittenhoefer  said : 

Address  of  Mr.  Dittenhoefer. 
In  view  of  the  departure  from  our  midst  of  our  friend,  our 
dear  friend,  the  President  of  this  Society,  I  think  that  we 
should  follow  the  example  set  in  every  pubhc  body,  that  we 
transact  no  business  whatever,  and  pay  a  tribute  in  thus  doing 
to  the  memory  of  that  great  man. 


84  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

I  presume  at  some  other  time  a  fitting  opportunity  will 
present  itself  for  paying  our  dear  friend  that  tribute  which 
he  so  truly  deserves.  His  death  is  a  loss  not  only  to  the 
Jewish  community  at  large,  not  only  to  the  country  at  large, 
but  it  is  an  affliction  that  each  one  of  us  feels  personally. 
He  was  truly  a  good  man  in  every  sense  of  that  word  ;  he  was 
patriotic  to  his  adopted  country,  he  was  eminently  a  Jew  in 
every  respect,  laboring  in  behalf  and  in  support  of  his  faith 
and  those  who  were  attached  to  it.  But  what  endeared  him 
to  me  more  than  anything  else  was  his  plain,  unassuming 
character. 

There  was  nothing  proud,  nothing  repellant,  in  his  character 
We  will  miss  him  more,  perhaps,  than  any  one  else  belonging 
to  our  faith. 

He  creates  a  void  that  I  do  not  see  can  be  filled  with  satis- 
faction. My  recollections  of  him  date  back  to  my  early 
boyhood.  I  met  him  in  this  city  when  a  mere  boy  at  school, 
and  when  I  associated  with  his  sons.  At  that  time  he  did  not 
occupy  the  public  position  which  he  held  before  his  death. 
He  never  changed  his  disposition,  never  changed  in  that  gen- 
erosity which  continued  to  surround  his  character,  and  which 
impressed  me  more  than  all  his  other  qualities, 

A  pity,  a  great  regret  it  was  that  he  did  not  live  to  see  the 
crowning  object  of  his  life,  like  Moses  of  old,  who  saw  the 
promised  land,  but  was  not  destined  to  go  into  it. 

Mr.  President  and  Gentlemen :  I  think  we  should  at  least 
pay  that  meed  of  tribute,  and  not  transact  any  business  to-day 
— any  business  pertaining  or  belonging  to  this  meeting. 

I  move,  and  ask  unanimous  consent  of  all,  that,  as  a  tribute 
of  respect,  we  adjourn  this  meeting  to  the  call  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees. 

At  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Dittenhoefer's  remarks,  Hon. 
Oscar  S.  Straus  arose  and  said  : 

"  As  soon  as  that  sad  grief  reached  the  Board  of  Directors 
of  this  institution,  they  immediately  came  'together,  and  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  draft  words  of  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  him  whose  spirit  will  live  forever,  not  only  in  our 
hearts,  but  also  in  our  very  actions.  The  committee,  which 
consisted   of   Messrs.    Bach,    Lauterbach    and    myself,    havg 


AT   THE   ASYI,UM  85 

drafted  resolutions,  which,  with  the  permission  of  the  Chair 
and  those  present,  I  will  now  read." 

Mr.  Straus  then  read  the  resolutions,  which  appear  else- 
where herein. 

Mr.  M.  Warley  Platzek  arose  to  second  the  motion,  and 
spoke  as  follows : 

Address  of  Mr.  M.  Warley  Platzek. 

I  arise  as  one  not  amona;  vour  Directors.  I  feel  that  some 
one  among  you  should  second,  on  behalf  of  those  members, 
the  magnificent  tribute  just  paid  to  the  virtue  of  Jesse  Selig- 
man.  And  it  is  difficult  for  me  to  give  immediate  expression 
to  my  feelings.  Rich  as  is  the  vocabulary  of  our  tongue,  it 
is  far  too  poor  when  we  are  confronted  with  such  great  sorrow. 
It  is  impo'^sible  to  find  just  words  which  would  do  justice  to 
such  a  man.  America's  most  representative  Israelite  is  dead, 
and  we  may  search  this  country  from  end  to  end,  and  we  can 
place  our  hand  upon  no  one  that  is  the  equal  to  him.  It  is 
not  for  me  now  to  insult  his  memory  by  attempting  in  an 
impromptu  manner  to  do  justice  to  his  life's  work;  but  to 
those  who  had  the  satisfaction  of  working  with  him  and  by  his 
side,  his  is  a  life  that  should  be  an  example  both  to  the  young 
and  to  those  men  who  have  grown  old  in  honored  service. 
His  whole  life  was  one  of  honor,  one  of  industry,  and  one 
crowned  with  absolute  and  complete  success. 

Can  any  of  us  forget  how  he  spoke  when  he  set  out  to  visit 
the  Holy  Land  ?  Is  there  a  man  present  who  Hstened  to 
those  modest  statements  coming  from  the  Hps  of  that  great 
man  but  did  not  go  away  a  better  man,  inspired  by  his  good- 
ness, inspired  by  his  spirit  that  animated  and  sustained  him 
through  life,  who  set  us  a  lesson  in  order  that  we  may  live  up 
to  the  life  he  led  ?  Can  we  forget  when  the  Russian  tyrant 
sought  to  smite  a  man  because  he  was  a  Jew  ?  How  he  called 
to  the  patriotic  Israelites,  and  how  his  voice,  in  trembling 
tones,  called  us  on  to  action,  and,  under  his  inspection,  his 
leadership,  he  brought  young  men  from  their  offices,  he 
brought  clerks  from  their  desks,  women  from  their  homes,  and 
led  into  successful  action,  until  the  Czar  was  obliged  to  listen 
to  the  voice  of  humanity  and  stay  the  hand  of  persecution. 


86  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

It  is  such  a  man  whom  we  are  here  doing  honor.  I  know  I 
will  be  excused  if  I  have  been  unable  to  pay  a  tribute  to  his 
life's  work,  and  to  pay  that  tribute  which  is  due  to  him.  We 
must  accept  the  sorrow  that  is  ours,  and  learn  a  lesson  from 
his  life,  his  work,  his  patriotism  and  integrity. 

Mr.  Rice  then  read  the  following  cablegram  from  Mr.  Jacob 
H.  Schifif,  who  was  in  Frankfort,  which  was  received  by  the 
editors  of  Thk  American  Hebrew  that  morning,  for  publica- 
tion in  the  Seligman  Memorial  Number.  The  cablegram 
read  as  follows : 

"Jesse  Seligman's  warm  attachment  to  his  race,  his  gener- 
ous public  spirit  and  lofty  patriotism,  united  with  singular 
ability  to  deal  with  every  situation,  all  made  him  the  most 
worthy  Hebrew  American  of  this  generation. 

Jacob  H.  Schiff." 

Mr.  Edward  Lauterbach  then  stepped  forward,  and  an- 
nounced that  Memorial  Services  would  be  held  in  the  Asylum 
on  Decoration  Day.      He  then  continued: 

Remarks  of  Mr.  Edward  Lauterbach. 

The  last  information  that  Mr.  Seligman  desired  concerning 
this  institution  was  as  to  the  fate  of  the  St.  Nicholas  Park  Bill. 
Not  one  dollar  of  advantage,  not  one  atom  of  self-interest,  was 
there  in  it  to  him.  The  bill  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  of 
the  State,  and  was  then  put  in  the  Governor's  hands,  and  pro- 
vided for  what  ?  Provided  for  the  advantage  of  this  institu- 
tion. The  last  expression  of  interest,  the  last  expression  of 
absorbed  interest,  was  in  respect  to  the  welfare  of  this  insti- 
tution— "  Will  the  Governor  sign  the  bill,  in  order  that  the 
700  children  may  be  benefited  in  their  surroundings,  that  they 
may  feel  the  safety  of  a  public  park,  and  not  be  thrust  in  on 
all  sides  by  tenement-houses  ?"' 

To  accomplish  this  had  been  his  most  ardent  work  for  the 
last  five  years,  the  last  expression  of  interest— Will  the  bill  be 
signed  ?  Within  two  days  the  bill  was  signed.  And  I  may 
say,  could  the  answer  have  come  to  him,  it  would  have  been 
a  source  of  great  solace  to  him.     There  is  scarcely  anything 


AT   THE   ASYLUM  87 

to  be  said.  This  great  institution  would  never  have  existed 
but  for  Jesse  Seligman.  It  is  the  best  monument  to  his  mem- 
ory— the  seven  hundred  children  who  have  been  taken  from 
the  slums,  nourished,  and  who  will  follow  the  examples  of 
many  who  have  become  great  men  of  the  community,  instead 
of  leading  lives  of  worthlessness,  misery  and  crime.  For  he 
who  performed  this  was  our  leader,  our  champion,  our 
director. 

There  was  no  Sunday  morning  in  which  he  was  not  here, 
rainy  or  shining  weather;  whatever  may  have  been  the  condition 
of  the  weather  or  of  his  health,  the  same  intense  interest  and 
the  same  true  life  and  sincerity,  the  same  degree  of  devotion 
did  Jesse  Seligman  give  to  this  institution. 

Is  it  possible  to  describe  the  loss  that  the  Hebrew  Benevo- 
lent Orphan  Asylum  Society  has  sustained  by  his  death?  It 
has  been  said  that  the  entire  gap  caused  by  any  death  can 
always  be  filled,  but  that  is  not  true.  The  combination  of  the 
whole  Board  of  Governors,  the  filling  of  the  vacancy,  how- 
ever great,  the  application  of  all  our  energy,  can  never  supply 
to  the  society  a  substitute  for  this  grand  and  noble,  self- sacri- 
ficing, devoted  man.  And  we  mourn  his  loss  as  I  think  no 
association  has  been  called  upon  to  mourn  the  loss  of  an 
officer.  Words  cannot  express  our  deep  feeling  for  this  great 
man.  We  all  know — directors,  members  and  patrons,  and, 
above  all,  the  little  ones  in  this  institution — that  we  have  sus- 
tained a  loss  absolutely  irreparable.  We  shall  ask  the  mem- 
bers and  patrons  to  stand  by  us  with  renewed  energy  and 
interest,  and  it  may  be  that  the  work  so  thoroughly  begun  by 
him,  so  thoroughly  followed  and  completed,  has  been  so  well- 
grounded,  so  well-founded  that,  in  spite  of  his  loss,  we  shall 
still  be  able,  therefore,  to  continue  the  work  as  he  intended  it 
shall  be.  We  shall  best  honor  his  memory — and  surely  his 
memory  deserves  it  -  by  consecrating  ourselves  as  he  conse- 
crated himself.  This  marvelous  work,  so  marvelously  achieved, 
accomplished  for  the  purpose  of  making  of  the  forgotten  waif 
an  honorable  and  respected  citizen." 

The  resolutions  were  adopted  by  a  rising  vote,  and  the 
meeting  was  then  adjourned,  subject  to  the  call  of  the  Board 
of  Trustees. 


pXcmovial  J>cutiicc5  at  the  ^sijlum. 


On  Decoration  Day  (Wednesday,  May  30th,  1894),  the 
Trustees  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum 
Society  paid  a  fitting  tribute  to  the  memory  of  their  late 
associate  and  President,  Jesse  Seligman,  by  memorial  ser- 
vices, which  were  held  in  the  synagogue  of  the  Asylum.  The 
place  was  crowded,  among  the  invited  guests  being  men 
prominent  in  the  financial,  commercial  and  political  worlds. 
The  singing  of  the  children,  under  direction  of  Mr.  Sabel,  was 
beautiful  and  appropriate,  and  the  addresses  all  breathed  a 
spirit  of  love  and  admiration  for  the  man  whose  memory  was 
being  honored. 

Hon.  Oscar  S.  Straus  presided,  and  after  the  recital  of 
Psalm  xvi.,  Dr.  Herman  Baar,  the  Superintendent  of  the 
Asylum,  gave  the  following  opening  prayer : 

Prayer  by  Dr.  H.  Baar. 

God  and  Father !  "  As  the  hart  panteth  after  the  water- 
brooks,  so  panteth  my  soul  after  thee,  my  God.''  To  Thee, 
the  Rock,  from  which  help  and  consolation  come,  our  longing 
eyes  look  up  when  grief  and  sorrow  have  entered  our  hearts. 
Oh,  favor  us  with  Thy  light  from  above,  and  reach  us  the  staff 
of  Thy  consolation  when  we  walk  in  the  vale  of  tears  !  Listen 
graciously  to  our  words,  and  grant  that  they  may  turn  our 
mourning  into  hopefulness  and  trust,  and  ©ur  sadness  into 
peace  and  resignation. 

In  this  spirit,  we  have  assembled  here,  O  Father,  to  remem- 
ber before  Thee,  in  this  solemn  hour,  our  blessed  departed, 
our  late  fellow-brother  and  friend,  Jesse  Seligman.  Thou 
hast  sorely  and  grievously  afflicted  us  with  his  earthly  removal; 
for  his  very  absence  is  painfully  felt,  wherever  we  see  and  look 
around  us.  A  sweet  home  is  deprived  of  its  dearest  love  ;  a 
fond  brother  seeks  in  vain  for  his  affectionate  life  companion, 
and  a  whole  family  keenly  feels  the  departure  of  one  who 
formed  such  a  bright  and  prominent  member  of  their  blessed 
union. 


MEMORIAL  SERVICES  89 

And,  apart  from  home  and  family,  his  loss,  O  Father,  is  a 
Teal  calamitous  event  for  so  many  other  important  concerns 
of  life.  Vt'e  shall  miss  his  great  patriotic  devotion  for  this, 
the  country  of  his  adoption  ;  we  shall  miss  him  in  that  ardent 
interest  he  took  in  the  welfare  of  this  large  city;  we  shall  miss 
him  in  our  congregational  affairs;  nay,  we  shall  miss  him,  above 
all,  in  his  philanthropic  labors,  through  which  he  became  the 
noble  chief  and  President  of  this  our  l)rphan  Asylum;  indeed, 
his  seat  in  our  home  will  be  found  empty  for  time  and  time 
to  come.  And  what  a  true  and  real  benefactor  he  has  been 
to  our  children,  the  orphans !  He  was,  in  fact,  the  light  of 
their  eyes,  the  joy  of  their  hearts,  the  comfort  of  their  souls, 
the  advocate  of  their  wishes,  the  promoter  of  their  plans,  and 
the  hope  to  whom  they  were  looking  up  in  shaping  their  future. 
What  is  it  that  can  console  us  in  our  deep  affliction  ?  VVe 
have  only  the  sad  tear  to  weep  for  our  departed,  the  sorrowful 
thought  to  remember  our  departed,  and  the  grievous  heart  to 
long  and  yearn  after  the  departed. 

There  is,  however,  one  thing,  O  Father,  which  can  throw 
some  light  over  our  bereavement,  and  that  is  the  good  name 
and  the  noble  works  which  the  deceased  has  left  behind  him. 
They  both  will  perpetuate  his  dear  memory,  and  will  insure 
and  proclaim  his  immortality  here  and  above.  We  bow,  there- 
fore, in  humility  to  Thy  Heavenly  decree,  and  submit  ourselves 
patiently  to  Thy  better  wisdom  and  judgment,  and  beseech 
Thee  that  Thou  wilt  graciously  summon  him  before  Thy 
Mercy-seat,  wilt  feed  him  at  the  fountain  of  I  hy  everlasting 
love,  wilt  cast  the  joy  of  Heaven  around  his  soul,  and  the  bHss 
of  eternal  peace  around  his  spirit  ! 

And,  as  he  stood  so  foremost  and  prominent  in  every  virtue 
that  can  embellish  and  beautify  human  life,  let  us  hope. 
Father,  that  his  bright  example  may  be  a  model  and  pattern 
to  every  one  of  us.  Let  us  copy  our  noble  departed  in  his 
amiability  and  sweetness  of  temper ;  let  us  copy  him  in  his 
sterling,  manly  character  and  moral  principles;  nay,  let  us  copy 
him  in  that  zeal  and  activity  with  which  he  devoted  himself  so 
readily  and  joyfully  to  charitable  objects.  And,  as  his  large 
and  loving  heart  was  always  in  closest  union  with  the  universal 
heart  of  humanity,  and  thus  prompted  him  to  have  a  kind 


go  JESSIC  SEUGMAN 

word  and  active  sympathy  for  every  human  being,  unmindful 
of  creed,  of  descent  and  nationality,  so,  Father,  strengthen  us 
in  our  purposes,  that  we  may  enter  into  the  noble  footsteps  of 
the  deceased,  and  may  show  the  heartiest  and  most  amicable 
feelings  towards  our  fellow-man  and  brother. 

O  I'ather!  We  pray  and  beseech  Thee,  keep  us  alive;  do 
not  call  us  away  so  early  from  the  midst  of  our  beloved,  from 
the  sphere  of  our  activity  and  labor.  But,  if  it  be  Thy  will  to 
make  us  part  from  here,  if  it  is  decreed  by  Thee  to  summon 
us  away  from  this  mortal  abode,  let  us  part  in  the  manner  as 
our  noble  friend  and  benefactor  did — in  peace  with  Thee  and 
in  peace  with  all  the  world  !    Amen. 

The  children's  choir  then  sang,  "  Father,  to  Thee  we  look 
in  all  our  sorrow,''  after  which  Mr.  Straus  made  a  few  intro- 
ductory remarks. 

Remarks  of  Mr.   O.   S.  Straus. 

Friends: — The  occasion  which  brings  us  together  is  sad, 
yet  it  is  not  one  which  should  fill  our  hearts  with  grief.  We 
should  be  grateful — grateful  for  a  life  so  useful,  precious  and 
noble  as  marks  the  earthly  career  of  our  deceased  President 
from  beginning  to  end. 

That  hfe  has  memorialized  itself,  and  it  is  for  us  to  draw 
from  it  the  inspiration  which  will  make  our  lives  richer  in  good 
deeds  and  more  helpful  to  our  fellow-men.  The  career  of 
Jesse  Seligman  was  one  of  manly  struggle,  of  kindness,  of  un- 
affected simplicity,  of  lofty  purpose  and  noble  achievements. 
His  was  a  life  of  happiness,  happiness  for  others,  and.  there- 
fore,  of  happiness  for  himself. 

There  are  wiser,  more  learned  and  more  distinguished  men 
than  he  was,  but  there  are  no  better.  He  was  not  ambitious, 
and  yet  from  an  humble  station  he  rose  to  eminence  and 
power.  He  struggled  to  rise,  not  that  he  might  rank  among 
the  great,  but  that  his  power  might  be  greater  to  help  others. 
Though  always  leading  a  busy  and  toiling  life  and  engaged  in 
weighty  and  important  affairs,  he  had  always  leisure  to  do  a 
noble  deed  and  to  be  helpful  to  the  poor  and  suffering. 

No  man  ever  loved  his  fellow-man  more  than  he,  and  I 


MEMORIAL  SERVICES  91 

doubt  if  ever  a  man  was  more  beloved  by  those  who  knew 
him  best.  His  generous  heart  and  kindness  of  feehng  were 
mirrored  in  his  genial  face.  For  him  there  was  no  higher  post 
of  duty  than  the  Presidency  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum. 
He  felt  a  genuine  pride  in  it,  because  he  knew  he  could  do 
his  best  work  here,  and  therefore,  he  gave  to  it  his  best 
thoughts  for  the  past  eighteen  years. 

With  him  here,  the  children  of  the  Asylum  were  not  orphans; 
he  was  their  father,  and  loved  them  as  his  children.  Here 
he  came  regularly  every  Sunday,  in  rain  and  m  sunshine,  and 
often  during  the  summer,  when  he  was  prevented  from  going 
to  his  family,  he  came  here,  to  his  other  home,  to  be  among 
his  children. 

To  have  a  happy  home  is  bliss ;  but  Jesse  Seligman  had 
two  such  homes,  and  the  happiness  of  the  one  was  continually 
reflected  in  the  other.  The  thousand  children  who  have 
graduated  from  this  asylum,  the  seven  hundred  who  are 
now  here,  and  the  thousands  yet  to  come  and  go,  will 
all  enjoy  greater  opportunities  to  lead  better  lives  and 
become  more  useful  members  of  the  community  because  of 
his  work,  his  love,  his  guardianship, and  his  inspiring  example. 

When  the  corner-stone  of  this  Asylum  building  was  laid, 
Mr.  Seligman  invited  as  the  chief  orator  on  that  occasion  a 
most  excellent  man,  whose  life  is  itself  a  pyramid  of  patriotism 
and  devotion  to  the  welfare  of  others.  He  knew  that  the 
words  of  such  a  man  would  be  forever  a  stimulus  to  the  chil- 
dren, the  members,  and  the  public  at  large,  to  make  this 
Asylum  the  great  and  useful  institution  it  has  become.  His 
wise  words  and  counsel  were  amalgamated,  as  it  were,  in  the 
very  bricks  and  mortar  of  this  large  building.  Often  have 
they  been  recalled;  often  have  the  ladies  of  the  Auxiliary 
Society  recurred  to  his  eloquent  and  tender  admonition,  that 
each  should  charge  herself  to  stand  in  a  mother's  place  for  at 
least  one  of  the  children  here.  To-day  we  are  again  favored 
by  that  same  noble  man,  whose  name  and  achievements  are 
the  pride  of  two  continents.  It  is  now  my  privilege  to  ask 
Mr.  Carl  Schurz  to  address  you. 

Mr.  Schurz  then  stepped  forward  amid  a  suppressed  mur- 


92  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

mur  of  applause,  and  held  the  audience  closely  during  his 
address,  which  was  as  follows  : 

It  is  most  fit  that  the  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman  should  be 
celebrated  here,  on  this  very  spot.  I  see  him  now,  as  he 
stood  here  years  ago,  when  the  corner  stone  of  this  magnifi- 
cent building  was  laid,  and  when,  owing  to  his  friendly  invi- 
tation, I  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  taking  part  in  the  dedica- 
tion ceremonies — I  see  him,  his  face  beaming  with  joy  over 
the  good  that  had  been  accomplished,  and  with  glad  antici- 
pation of  the  greater  good  still  to  be  done,  for  his  whole  heart 
was  in  this  noble  work.  And  here,  where  his  monument 
stands— not  a  mere  monument  of  stone  or  brass,  but  a  living 
monument  in  grateful  human  hearts — here,  where  he  still 
lives  and  will  not  die,  the  lessons  of  his  life  may  be  most 
worthily  learned,  not  to  be  forgotten.  Indeed,  the  legacy  not 
only  of  benefactions,  but  of  lessons  which  that  life  has  left 
behind  it,  may  be,  especially  to  the  young  among  us,  if  they 
understand  them  well  and  treasure  them  up  to  inspire  and 
guide  their  hearts  and  minds,  of  far  greater  value  than  any 
amount  of  his  money  that  Jesse  Seligman  might  have  be- 
queathed to  them.  Some  of  us,  may,  perhaps,  have  envied 
him  while  he  lived,  as  an  eminently  successful  man.  But  what 
do  we  consider  in  him  worthy  of  envy  now,  since  he  is  dead? 
Why  do  we  honor  his  memory,  and  wish  that,  when  we  shall 
be  gone,  we  shall,  in  many  respects,  be  remembered  as  he 
is?  Because  he  was  a  rich  man?  Certainly  not;  for  that  is  in 
itself  nothing  to  be  really  proud  of.  The  ambition  to  be  merely 
rich  is  only  a  small  and  vulgar  ambition.  It  may  be  gratified 
by  the  accident  of  birth  or  of  good  fortune;  it  may  be  gr.atified 
by  the  diligent  and  constant  exertion  of  faculties  which  do 
not  by  any  means  belong  to  the  higher  attainment  of  human 
nature.  Of  those  who,  in  the  history  of  mankind,  left  most 
fragrant  memories  behind  them,  only  very  few  were  dis- 
tinguished by  great  wealth,  and  the  mere  possession  of  that 
wealth  never  constituted  their  title  to  affection  and  reverence. 

Are  we  honoring  Jesse  Seligman  because  he  was  a  success- 
ful self-made  man  ?  This  is  especially  in  our  country  of  great 
opportunities,  not  in  itself  a  distinction  deserving  uncommon 
esteem.     I  know,  and  no  doubt  you  know,  self-made  men  so 


MEMORIAL   SERVICES  93 

inordinately  puffed  up  with  their  own  success,  so  forgetful  of 
the  merits  of  others  in  comparison  with  their  own,  so  oppres- 
sive with  the  ostentatious  and  unceasing  display  of  their  riches 
as  well  as  their  self  appreciation,  that  they  rank  among  the 
most  disagreeable  members  of  human  society,  making  us  wish 
that  they  had  made  anything  else  but  themselves. 

Or  do  we  admire  Jesse  :^eligman,  above  others,  because  he 
was  a  patriotic  man  ?  No,  for  under  ordinary  circumstances 
it  is  only  a  natural  thing  to  be  patriotic.  Especially  a  citizen 
of  this  Republic  is  more  apt  to  attract  attention  and  to  be 
blamed  when  he  is  not  patriotic,  than  to  be  praised  when  he 
is. 

All  these  things,  therefore,  are  in  themselves  not  sufficient 
to  make  a  life  valuable  as  a  memory,  and  as  an  inspiration, 
Jesse  Seligman's  life,  as  we  look  back  upon  it,  is  such  a  valu- 
able memory  and  inspiring  lesson  because  he  rose  above  the 
ordinary  level  of  the  merely  rich,  self-made,  liberal  and  patri- 
otic man. 

The  ideal  rich  man  is  he  who  not  only  has  come  by  his 
wealth  honestly,  but  who  uses  his  riches  in  such  a  fashion  as 
to  silence  the  voice  of  envy  and  to  make  those  who  know  him, 
glad  and  grateful  that  he  is  rich.  To  reach  this  ideal  com- 
pletely is  given  to  but  few.  But  it  may  truly  be  said  that 
Jesse  Seligman  approached  it.  No  doubt,  he  wished  to  be 
rich  and  worked  for  it.  He  valued  the  acquisition  of  wealth, 
but  he  valued  it  most  as  the  acquisition  of  opportunities  for 
something  larger  and  nobler.  He  saw  his  business  success, 
but  not  his  higher  ambition  and  his  happiness  in  his  balance 
sheets.  He  felt  himself  greater  and  happier  in  this  orphan 
home  than  in  his  bank.  He  made  his  wealth  a  blessing  to 
others  ;  he  enjoyed  it  the  more,  the  gi eater  the  blessing  to 
others  it  became,  and  there  were  many  who  wished  him  to  be 
much  richer,  knowing  that  his  greater  wealth  would  only  have 
become  to  many  others  greater  relief  and  comfort.  He  was 
a  self-made  man,  as  it  is  a  joy  to  meet.  In  a  high  degree  he 
had  the  self-made  man's  virtues  and  was  remarkably  free  from 
his  faults.  He  never  forgot  his  lowly  beginnings  but  never 
boasted  of  them,  to  contrast  his  success  with  other  people's 
failures.     His  recollections  only  stimulated  his  sympathy  with 


94  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

those  less  fortunate  than  himself.  He  did  not  in  his  affluence 
aflfect  the  rough  simplicity  and  contempt  of  refinement  in 
which  upstarts  sometimes  demonstratively  please  themselves 
and  which  is  only  a  coarse  form  of  vanity  ;  and  still  less  was 
he  an  ostentatious  swaggerer  bent  upon  letting  the  world  per- 
ceive that  he  possessed  his  millions.  He  lived  with  his  family 
in  a  style  becoming  his  means,  but  with  the  modesty  becoming 
a  gentleman.  There  was  no  gaudy  display  of  riches,  no 
obtrusive  flashing  of  diamonds  on  hotel  piazzas,  and  no  flar- 
ing exhibitions  in  opera  boxes.  But  there  was  nothing  mean 
about  him  or  his.  The  hospitality  of  his  house  was  hearty 
and  most  generous,  but  it  abstained  from  anything  that  might 
have  made  one  of  his  guests  feel  poor  or  small.  Nor  was 
there  anything  in  him  of  that  superciliousness  not  unfrequently 
met  with  in  rich  men  which  claims  for  them  much  wisdom 
because  they  have  much  money. 

In  all  my  experience  I  have  never  met  a  rich  man  more 
modest,  more  generous,  more  tolerant  of  adverse  opinion,  or 
a  self-made  man  less  overbearing,  less  vain-glorious,  and  less 
conceited,  more  sympathetic  and  more  helpful.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  he  was  thought  much  richer  than  he  really  was — richer 
not  because  of  his  display,  but  because  of  his  benefactions. 
To  judge  from  the  good  he  did,  his  wealth  should  have  been 
much  greater.  He  was  a  liberal  giver,  but  he  gave  much  more 
than  money.  That  rich  man  only  manifests  the  true  spirit  of 
benevolence  who  not  only  gives  to  the  needy,  but  who  also 
thinks  for  them  and  works  for  them.  It  was  by  this  that 
Jesse  Seligman  proved  the  genuine  gold  of  his  humanity,  and 
nowhere  did  tliis  gold  shine  more  brightly  than  on  this  very 
spot. 

There  was  indeed  no  charitable  enterprise  within  his 
reach  that  did  not  feel  the  generositv  of  his  open  hand,  and 
when  needed,  the  kindly  thoughtfulness  of  his  counsel,  from 
the  Hospital  and  the  Home  for  the  Aged,  up  to  that  remarkable 
triumph  of  wisely  directed  energy,  the  Hebrew  Technical 
Institute,  which  not  only  successfully  demonstrates  that  the 
Jew,  when  well  guided,  will  take  to  skilled  handicraft  with 
enthusiasm  and  with  the  whole  force  and  ingenuity  of  hig 
nature,  but  which  also  in  its  plan,  organization  and  conduc^ 


MEMORIAL  SERVICES  95 

may  serve  as  a  noble  model  of  its  kind   to  the  educators  of 
any  country  and  of  any  creed. 

All  such  endeavors  could  count  upon  Jesse  Seligman's 
bountiful  aid;  and  when  his  last  will  was  opened  and  the  com- 
munity saw  the  list  of  the  benevolent  institutions  to  which  he 
had  left  bequests,  without  regard  to  religion  or  nationality, 
with  unsurpassed  catholicity  of  spirit,  people  asked  with  won- 
der, not  what  opportunities  for  doing  good  he  had  thought  of, 
but  whether  there  was  any  he  had  failed  to  remember.  It 
was,  however,  here  in  the  Orphan  Home  that  his  heart  found 
its  favorite  field  for  beneficent  work.  Here  he  lived  on  the 
best  of  his  nature.  It  was  truly  touching  to  see  this  man, 
loaded  down  with  the  enormous  responsibilities  and  cares  of  a 
vast  financial  business,  at  least  once  a  week,  every  Sunday 
morning,  wend  his  way  to  this  house,  forget  all  about  bonds 
and  stocks  and  syndicates  and  chances  of  gain  and  financial 
crises  in  which  fortunes  might  be  lost,  and  to  give  all  his 
thoughts  to  the  little  ones  who  are  cast  upon  the  mercy  of  the 
world — and  study  and  scheme  and  work, — as  indeed  he  did 
often  also  when  he  was  not  here  to  turn  sunshine  upon  their 
bereaved  existence,  to  arm  them  for  the  struggles  of  life  and 
to  enable  them  to  become  useful,  self-reliant,  self-respecting 
and  happy  citizens  of  a  free  country.  This  was  the  work  he 
loved  most,  which  satisfied  his  fondest  ambition,  and  in  which 
he  found  the  most  genuine  happiness.  In  the  best  sense  of 
the  word,  he  was  the  father  of  the  fatherless,  and  it  was  his 
active,  untiring  and  unceasing  care  for  the  welfare  of  these 
children,  more  than  any  other  of  his  benefactions,  that  stamped 
him  as  a  truly  benevolent  man,  a  genuine  friend  of  humanity, 
and  therefore  this  is  the  noblest  and  most  enduring  of  his 
monuments.  He  was  a  patriotic  man — not  in  the  sense  merely 
that  he  cheerfully  performed  all  his  duties  as  a  citizen,  or  that 
he  gave  the  government  valuable  advice  and  aid  as  a  financier 
whenever  called  upon — but  that  he  ardently  loved  his  adopted 
country,  was  proud  of  it,  and  was  not  only  willing  but  eager  to 
serve  it.  Some  gentlemen  of  high  standing  among  us  here 
have  in  their  published  tributes  to  Jesse  Seligman's  memory, 
regretfully  mentioned  the  fact  that  he  and  his  too,  have  been 
struck  at  by  anti-Semitic  hostility — by  that  narrow-minded 


g6  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

contemptible  spirit  which  revived  the  prejudices  of  dark  ages 
and  seeks  in  barbarous  persecution  the  remedy  for  evils,  for 
which  popular  ignorance,  sloth  and  improvidence  are  in  the 
largest  manner  responsible— a  spirit  so  utterly  abhorrent  to 
justice  and  enlightened  reason,  that  it  is  difficult  to  understand 
how  a  person  of  self-respect  can  share  it  or  behold  it  in  others 
without  shame  and  indignation. 

I  have  heard  it  said  that  a  Jew  cannot  be  a  patriot,  because 
he  has  no  fatherland.  Those  who  say  so  do  not  want  the  Jew 
to  have  a  fatherland,  and  would,  if  they  had  their  way  make 
it  impossible  for  him  to  be  a  patriot.  A  country  can  hardly 
expect  those  of  its  inhabitants  to  be  ardent  patriots  whom  it 
treats  as  aliens  or  outcasts.  In  the  same  measure  as  an  anti- 
Semitic  spirit  prevails,  a  Jew  is  a  patriot  under  difficulties.  If 
he  is  a  patriot  in  spite  of  anti-Semitic  persecution,  that  patriot- 
ism is  in  him  a  virtue  of  especial  merit.  And  this  virtue 
Jesse  Seligman  possessed  in  the  highest  degree.  I  saw  him 
and  spoke  with  him  when  the  smart  he  had  suffered  was  fresh- 
I  know  how  keenly  he  felt  it;  but  I  know  also  that  had  at  that 
moment  the  country,  or  what  he  understood  to  be  the  public 
interest,  demanded  of  him  any  service  or  any  sacrifice,  he 
wi^uld  have  offered  it  with  the  same  enthusiastic  devotion  that 
ever  had  animated  him.  He  would  have  remained  a  patriot 
in  spite  of  any  difficulty— a  shining  example  for  his  own  race 
to  follow,  putting  to  shame  its  revilers;  indeed,  an  example  to 
every  citizen  of  whatever  creed  or  origin. 

And  now  he  lies  in  an  honored  grave,  and  by  it  stand  with 
sadness,  but  also  with  pride,  his  dear  ones  whom  he  loved  so 
much,  and  who  so  warmly  returned  his  love.  And  you  all 
have  come,  rich  and  poor,  native  and  foreign  born.  Christian 
and  Jew  and  Gentile,  with  hearts  full  of  respect  and  affection 
for  the  man  who  understood  the  great  truth,  and  whose  life 
has  taught  the  greatest  lesson,  that  our  truest  and  most  endur- 
ing happiness  springs  from  the  contributions  we  make  to  the 
happiness  of  others— a  lesson  that  every  one  may  follow, 
according  to  his  means  and  opportunities,  each  in  his  sphere 
and  in  his  way,  to  win  the  same  happiness  and  to  deserve  the 
same  honor.  It  may  well  be  said  that  he  had  not  lived  in 
vain  whose  life  has  left  its  mark  in  the  advanced  well  being  of 


MEMORIAL   EXERCISES  97 

his  kind.  And  there  are  multitudes  of  human  beings  whose 
tears  he  has  dried,  whose  distress  he  has  relieved,  whom  he 
has  helped  to  make  strong  for  the  struggle  of  life,  who  now 
and  ever  will  gratefully  affirm  and  proclaim  that  Jesse  Selig- 
man  has  surely  not  lived  in  vain,  and  who  will  never  cease  to 
bless  his  memory. 

When  Mr.  Schurz  concluded,  the  children  sang  "  God  shall 
keep  thee."  Mr.  Straus  explained  that  Mr.  Edward  Lauter- 
bach,  who  was  to  have  spoken,  was  detained  in  Albany  in  con- 
nection with  work  in  the  Constitutional  Convention,  and  said 
that  Mr.  Mayer  Sulzberger  would  be  the  next  speaker.  He 
referred  to  his  work  in  connection  with  the  Baron  de  Hirsch 
Fund  in  Philadelphia,  and  his  connection  with  it. 

Address  of  Mr.  Mayer  Sulzberger. 

Ladies  and  Gentlemen: — With  the  splendid  tribute  to 
the  memory  of  Mr.  Seligman  that  has  just  been  paid  by  the 
distmguished  orator  and  illustrious  statesman  who  preceded 
me  still  ringing  m  your  ears,  it  would  be  vain  to  add  words  of 
personal  eulogy  either  of  the  career  or  the  attributes  of  the 
distinguished  dead.  Nevertheless,  it  may  be  permitted  to  me 
to  say  something  upon  what  I  knew  of  Mr.  Seligman  in  the 
special  relation  to  which  Mr.  Straus,  in  introducing  me,  has 
called  attention  ;  and  in  so  doing,  I  may  say  that,  though  this 
be  a  memorial  service,  it  need  not  necessarily  be  of  the  nature 
of  mourning;  but  the  commemoration  of  this  man's  death 
should  be  an  occasion  not  for  employing  vain  mourning,  not 
for  piling  up  fulsome  eulogy,  but  for  self-consecration  and 
new  devotion  to  that  which  is  the  best  within  us,  to  our  higher 
motives  and  nobler  ideas.  For  such  a  purpose,  the  character^ 
the  name,  the  memory  and  the  achievements  of  Mr.  Seligman 
serve  as  a  noble  model. 

More  than  half  a  century  ago,  he  left  the  country  of  his 
nativity,  and  went  to  the  home  of  his  adoption — a  thing  often 
done,  a  very  common  thing,  but  yet  profoundly  pathetic  to 
see  a  boy  tied  to  a  soil  by  those  thousand  nameless  ties  which 
make  us  all,  whether  we  will  or  not,  patriots,  because  the  love 
of  the  soil  upon  which  we  are  born  is  implanted  in  the  human 
heart.     From  that  soil  practically  driven  at  a  tender  age  by 


gS  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

the  thousand  shafts  of  prejudice  and  intolerance  which  still 
there  survive,  driven  beyond  the  great  ocean  to  seek  a  home 
in  a  strange  land,  and  finding  it  there  among  the  people  in  the 
world  for  liberality,  for  generosity,  for  hospitality  and  for 
manhood;  and  of  this  people  he  became  one  as  absolutely 
and  as  thoroughly  as  if  he  and  his  ancestors  for  generations 
had  been  native  to  the  soil,  one  by  the  absorption  of  the  large 
and  generous  spirit  of  America,  one  by  the  assumption  of  the 
onerous  and  exacting  and  incessant  duties  of  a  higher  Ameri- 
can citizenship,  one  by  the  practice  of  all  those  generous 
private  virtues  which  so  characterize  the  people  of  this  coun- 
try. I  am  not  here  to  say  that,  as  a  nation,  we  have  no  faults, 
but  I  say  that,  with  all  our  faults  and  with  all  our  defects,  and 
with  all  the  things  and  the  many  things  that  we  have  to  learn, 
there  is  still  not  to-day  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  a  people  so 
grand  and  so  imposing  by  their  past  achievements,  by  the 
nobility  of  their  present  attitude,  and  by  the  hope  of  future 
work,  as  the  American  people.  And  of  this  people,  as  I  have 
said,  Mr.  Seligman  became,  essentially  and  typically,  one. 
But  as  his  career  from  early  youth  to  good  old  age  Avas  the 
career  of  a  typical  individual  citizen,  it  also  had  another  lesson 
— a  lesson  which  we  may  be  pardoned  for  alluding  to  here, 
and  which  cannot  be  dissociated  from  the  consideration  of  his 
memory  on  such  an  occasion. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  a  Jew,  and  that  meant,  and  that  means, 
and  that  for  long  will  mean,  many  things.  The  bravest  and 
the  grandest  and  the  noblest  of  spirit  do  not  perceive  in  their 
minds  or  in  their  hearts  any  difference  between  Jew  and  Gen- 
tile, Brahmin  or  Christian.  To  that  mind  and  that  heart 
which  are  developed  into  a  genuine  love  of  humanity,  into  a 
true  respect  for  the  freedom  and  power  of  development  of  the 
human  soul,  opinions  honestly  entertained,  earnestly  cherished, 
and  made  to  work  for  good,  can  never  be  the  subject  of  con- 
tempt, but  must  always  be  the  subject  of  respect  and  of 
reverence.  But,  unfortunately,  mankind  is  not  uniformly 
composed  of  such  materials.  Prejudices  are  the  oldest  things 
in  human  nature.  They  have  a  longer  and  more  illustrious 
ancestry,  in  point  of  time,  than  any  other  quality  of  our  human 
nature. 


MEMORIAL   EXERCISES  99 

Away  back  in  the  prehistoric  ages,  the  stranger  was  dreaded, 
and,  in  the  more  modern  time,  slight  variations  of  accent  or 
opinion  serve,  in  a  manifold  sense,  to   revive   the    ancient 
human  hatred  of  the  stranger.     Therefore  it  is  that  there  is  a 
new  quahty  which  is  added  to  the  Jew  as  Jew.    He  must  have 
an  amount  of  heroism  and  self-denial  which  is  a   little  bit 
greater  than  his  neighbor,  and  he  must  also  be  a  little  bit 
better  than  his  neighbor,  or  he  will  be  rated  as  very  much 
wQrse,  and,  no  doubt,  many  are  quite  justly  so.     But   Mr. 
Seligman's  career  must  be  looked  upon  as  a  type  of  that  Ger- 
man immigration  into  the  United  States,  which,  beginning  a 
httle  more  than  half  a  century  ago,  built  up  the  great  Jewish- 
American  community  that  was  established  here  at  the  end  of 
a  century  after  our  nation's  birth.     It  was  a  community  that 
had  reached  a  certain  degree  of  respect  with  the  general  public 
and  a  high  degree  of  prosperity.     It  was  improving  in  edu- 
cational facilities  and  opportunities,  and  bid  fair  to  have  a 
peaceful  career  of  amiable  indulgence  and  of  fellowship  with 
all  its  neighbors,  wnen  suddenly,  from  the  very  midst  of  that 
civilization  to  which  we  had  all  bowed  with  so  much  reverence, 
came  the  bleak  thunder-cloud  of  fanaticism,  first  from  the 
greatest  nation  in  the  world  for  scholastic  education,  from  the 
universities  of  Germany,  the  scientific  designation  of  vulgar 
hatred  of  fellow-men  came   to   supersede  the   more   fanatic 
learning  of  the  Middle  Ages,  and  the  old  "Hep!  Hep!"  was 
superseded  by  the  modern  anti-Semitism,  an  ethnological  term 
intended  to  gild  and  to  make  respectable  some  of  the  lowest 
passions  in  the  human  heart.     And  from  thence  that  disease 
spread,  and  resulted  in  the  great  crime  of  this  century,  the 
oppression  of  the  Russian  Jew,  and  it  is  with  affairs  in  this 
connection  that  I  had  the  most  experience  with  Mr.  Seligman. 
I  will  not  describe  those  scenes  of  terror;  I  will  not  describe 
the  splendid  courage  and  heroism  of  one  great  man,  Maurice 
de  Hirsch,  in  meeting  that  emergency.     But  I  cannot  but 
allude  to  the  reception  of  the  news  in  this  country — most 
unwelcome,  most  frightful  news.     Naturally,  the  high  hearted 
would  have  opened  their  arms  with  enthusiasm  to  receive  the 
victims  of  oppression  and  to  heal  their  wounds.     But  there 
were  among  us,  and  I  have  no  doubt  there  are  still  among  us, 


lOO  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

those  who  felt  comfortable  enough,  and  did  not  want  their 
elegant  leisure  and  their  satisfied  content  to  be  interfered  with 
or  imperilled  by  the  advent  of  thousands  and  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  strangers,  undistinguished  save  by  their  poverty 
and  strange  manner  and  alien  speech,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
that  all  of  you  have  heard  Jews  say  that  they  have  no  business 
here;  that  if  they  had  behaved  themselves  in  Russia,  that  fine 
gentleman  the  Czar,  would  never  have  oppressed  them. 
Some,  many,  have  repented  of  these  cruel  words  ;  many,  no 
doubt,  still  adhere  to  them,  because  it  is  easier  to  shut  the 
eye  to  duty  than  to  meet  an  emergency  bravely  and  perform 
the  duty.  But,  upon  the  whole,  the  Jews  of  England  and  of 
America  have  borne  their  part  nobly;  and  of  all  the  men  who 
assisted  to  nurse  and  develop  the  spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  the 
spirit  of  self-renunciation,  which  is  nothing  but  what  was  their 
duty — of  all  the  men  who  not  only  practised  it  themselves,  but 
did  the  most  to  arouse  it,  inspire  it  and  stimulate  it  in  others, 
Jesse  Seligman  was  foremost,  not  with  vam  speech,  not  with 
showy  gifts,  but  with  a  soul  of  tenderness,  with  a  devotion  of 
thought  and  effort  and  time  which  ard  the  true  gifts  of  men, 
that  very  few  have  paralleled. 

This  great  emergency  brought  out  what  has  always  seemed 
to  me  the  distinguishing  characteristics  of  Jesse  Seligman  as 
a  man.  He  had  a  wealth  of  tenderness  in  his  nature  which 
I  had  never  seen.  I  do  not  think  that  his  feeling  of  resent- 
ment, or  what  would  have  been  resentment  in  others,  for  per- 
sonal affront,  for  ingratitude  or  failure  to  appreciate  service  or 
effort  or  intent,  I  do  not  think  that  his  feeling  ever  rose  beyond 
pity  for  the  person  guilty  of  any  of  them.  Never  did  vanity 
urge  him,  under  any  circumstances,  to  complain  that  he  had 
not  been  adequately  respected  or  treated.  Under  all  condi- 
tions calculated  to  vex  and  oppress  the  mind  of  a  busy  man. 
as  he  was,  his  courtesy,  his  amiability,  his  ready  devotion  never 
failed,  and  he  was  always  ready  with  excuses,  with  palliation, 
to  ward  off  criticism  from  others. 

The  duty  which  was  thrown  upon  him  and  his  followers, 
throws  equally  a  duty  upon  the  whole  Jewish  community  of 
the  United  States,  and  notably  of  the  City  of  New  York.  The 
Russian- Jewish   immigration    has  assumed  such  proportions, 


MEMORIAL  SERVICES  lOI 

that  hereafter,  in  reckoning  with  American  Judaism,  this 
factor  must  be  taken  into  account,  not  only  largely,  but  most 
largely;  and  I  think  it  only  fair  to  utilize  the  occasion  to  urge 
you  who  may  look  with  generous  self-complacency  down  upon 
these  poor  people,  to  reflect  that  the  future  of  Judaism  in 
America  is  to  be  made  by  them ;  that  in  fifty  years  from  now 
their  grand-children  will  stand  where  the  native  Jews  of 
America  stand  to-day;  that  out  of  the  emotions  and  the  atti- 
tude and  the  industries  and  the  faculties  that  may  be  culti- 
vated in  these  people,  will  come  the  spirit  of  that  section  of 
the  American  people  which  will  in  fifty  years  be  called  Jewish. 
Let  no  considerations  of  superiority  suffice  to  keep  you  away 
from  your  duty  to  them  directly  and  indirectly;  your  direct 
duty  is  to  do  all  that  is  possible  to  promote  their  well-being, 
not  only  in  the  ways  that  you  think  right,  but  also  in  such 
modification  of  those  ways  as  may  meet  the  views  of  what 
they  may  think  right,  and  not  only  the  attitude  you  may  take 
to  them  or  with  your  fellow  Jews,  but  the  attitude  that  you 
may  take  in  the  presence  of  the  Christian  community  and  of 
all  men.  No  man  will  respect  you,  however  he  may  smile 
upon  you,  to  whom  you  may  say  that  these  are  not  of  our 
kind.  You  may  give  him,  old,  stale,  vulgar  prejudices 
rehashed,  and  tell  him  that  the  Pole  and  the  Russian  and  the 
Bessarabian,  and  all  the  other  sub-nationalities  coming  from 
that  quarter,  are  all  a  different  kind  from  you,  and  he  will 
cheerfully  accede  to  it, — and  go  forth  bearing  in  his  heart 
forever  the  contempt  for  you  that  you  deserve.  That  duty 
you  owe  not  only  to  yourselves,  not  only  to  your  children,  not 
only  to  the  Jewish  community,  you  owe  the  duty  to  mankind. 
All  men  are  alike,  it  matters  not  whence  they  come  nor  what 
their  political  or  religious  opinion.  Some  have  a  little 
different  varnish  from  others,  a  little  varnish  of  culture,  a 
little  varnish  of  elegance,  a  little  varnish  of  philosophy,  but 
your  schools  of  culture  vary  in  a  century,  your  philosophy 
falls  down  every  fifty  years,  and  back  of  them  all  is  the  man. 
And  that  man,  with  heart,  with  miad,  with  emotions,  with 
faculties,  with  passions,  he  is  the  same  all  the  world  over. 
And  because  the  individual  life  and  the  life  that  Jesse 
Seligmanled  in  relation  to  the  community  was  an  object  lesson 


I02  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

from  the  first  day  until  the  last  day,  of  the  genuine  oneness 
ot  mankind,  his  name  will,  when  all  the  worthies  are  called, 
stand   high  upon  the  list. 

The  children  sang  "Over  the  stars  there  is  rest,"  and  Rev. 
Chas.  Fleischer,  a  graduate  of  the  Asylum,  who  has  been  chosen 
minister  of  the  leading  congregation  of  Boston,  was  introduced. 

Address  of  Rev.  C.  Fleischer. 
Since  most  of  those  who  mourn  with  us  must  shed  their 
tears  in  secret  silence,  how  great  is  our  privilege,  to  whom  it 
has  been  granted  to  express  our  grief  in  public,  to  wreath 
around  the  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  immortelles  which 
lovingly  have  been  laid  down  upon  this  altar.  'Tis  fitting  thus 
publicly  to  commemorate  the  character  and  services  of  those, 
who,  by  their  humble  efforts,  have  moved  the  world  onward 
towards  its  goal. 

This  occasion   takes  me  back  in  mind  to  a  similar  scene  of 
which  I   was  a  witness   three   months   ago    in    Philadelphia. 
1  here,  also  in  a  Jewish  place  of  worship,  men  of  all  shades  of 
belief  and  disbelief,  men  of  all  grades  of  society,  were  gathered. 
They  also  had  assembled  to  honor  the  memory  of  a  dear  one 
just   departed,  whose  virtues  had  deserved  this  tribute.     The 
subject  of  the  eulogies  was  George  W.  Childs,  whose  character 
and  whose  career  were  wonderfully  like  those  of  Jesse  Selig- 
man.    Indeed,  to  me  they  suggest  two  mighty,  neighboring 
trees,  whose  upper  branches  intermingle  in  loving  fellowship, 
though  their  roots  and  trunks  are  far  apart.     Mr.  Seligman 
was  born  a  German  and  a  Jew,  Mr.  Childs  an  American  and  a 
Christian.     But  such  greatness  knows  no  creed  or  country.    It 
is  almost  impersonal.     Its  possessor  seems  merely  as  a  symbol 
for  some  higher  truth.     Great  and  good  men  appeal  to  what 
is  noblest  in  us.     They  represent  what  is  best  in  humanity. 
They  stand   for  human  perfectibility.     They  embody  for   us 
the  idea  of   the   Divine   in   man.      We  honor  ourselves,  we 
dignify  manhood,  in   showing  such   men  honor.     The   mere 
contemplation  of  such  men  makes  us  strip  off  the  cramping 
clothes  o(   creed  and  caste,  to   recognize  that  we  are  men,  aU 
children  of  one  Father. 


MEMORIAL  SERVICES  I03 

While  we  lament  the  loss  of  Jesse  Seligman,  yet  must  we 
thank  God  for  the  life  He  has  loaned  us.  Of  him  we  can 
say  only  what  is  good.  His  whole  character  was  so  nobly 
rounded,  all  his  virtues  were  so  beautifully  set,  that  it  would 
seem  improper  to  disturb  their  wondrous  harmony  by  selecting 
particular  traits  of  loveliness,  or  by  subjecting  them  to  even  a 
kind  analysis.  And  yet  this  occasion  and  my  part  therein, 
demand  it.  Therefore,  from  the  rainbow  of  his  nature  let  me 
select  only  the  most  brilliant  of  its  well-blended  colors. 

If  Jesse  Seligman  belonged  to  a  certain  race  by  accident  of 
birth,  yet  he  never  forgot  that  he  belonged  also  to  the  greater 
human  race.  If  he  was  born  a  member  of  a  particular  religious 
sect,  yet  did  he  also  believe  in  the  religion  of  humanity.  And 
this  is  no  glittering,  empty  sense,  as  one  who,  in  his  worship 
of  that  abstract  term — Humanity — has  soared  so  high  that  he 
can  no  more  see  his  kind.  But  as  a  Jew,  steadfast  and  loyal, 
did  he  always  live,  finding  in  Judaism  an  unfailing  inspiration 
and  an  impetus  to  love  and  labor  for  all  human  beings.  A 
religion  is  not  responsible  for  a  man's  vices,  but  it  does  deserve 
at  least  a  share  of  credit  for  his  virtues.  Therefore,  it  is  pro- 
per to  speak  of  our  deceased  one  as  he  was  always  proud  to 
be  known  :  Jesse  Seligman,  the  Jew.  For  with  all  the  fervor 
of  his  deeply  reverential  nature,  he  was  devoted  to  the  religion 
of  our  fathers. 

He  was  also  a  patriotic  American,  not  only  out  of  gratitude 
for  the  opportunity  and  subsequent  prosperity  which  America 
afforded  him,  but  also  out  of  love  of  the  principles  for  which 
our  country  stands. 

A  faithful  ]ew,  a  loyal  American,  yet  above  all  was  he  a 
man  who  loved  all  his  fellow-men.  His  philanthropy  was 
unbounded,  and  he  was  identified  with  charities  of  all  sects, 
of  all  sorts  and  of  all  nationaUties.  Yet,  naturally,  his  sym- 
pathy was  centred  in  the  down-trodden  and  dependent  of  his 
co-religionists. 

But,  among  all  the  many  children  of  his  care,  this  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum  was  his  pet  child.  Modest  as  he  was  to  a 
fault,  and  averse  as  he  was  to  holding  pubhc  office,  yet  he  was 
more  proud  of  being  President  of  this  institution  than  he 
would  have  been  to  be  President  of  the  United  States.     To 


104  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

the  duties  of  his  position  he  often  sacrificed  his  private  busi- 
ness and  his  social  interests.  He  was  always  ivith  this  place 
in  thought  or  in  person.  His  first  act  every  morning,  on 
coming  to  his  place  of  business,  was  to  communicate  by  tele- 
phone with  the  worthy  Superintendent.  ICvery  Sunday,  rain 
or  shine,  saw  him  punctually  in  this  building,  showmg  his 
interest  in  minutest  details,  staying  until  noon  to  bless  with 
his  benign  smile  each  child  as  it  walked  in  to  dinner.  For 
days  at  a  time,  in  summer  he  made  this  house  his  home,  say- 
ing that  here  he  enjoyed  his  vacation  most.  Always  this 
Asylum  was  his  last  care  in  leaving  the  city,  his  first  one  on 
returning.  It  is  well  known  that  on  starting  for  the  journey, 
from  which  he  was  not  destined  to  return  in  life,  he  expressed 
his  profound  regret  that  he  had  to  leave,  because  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Asylum  was  soon  to  take  place. 

So  Jesse  Seligman  was  truly  Vater  der  Waisen.  And  now 
his  orphans,  whom  he  had  adopted  as  his  pet  children,  are 
fatherless  once  more  !  With  his  own  immediate  family,  they 
are  chief  mourners  of  his  loss.  As  one  of  them,  I  speak  this 
eulogy.  As  one  of  those  who,  when  an  inmate  of  this  institu- 
tion, had  learned  to  reverence  him,  I  pay  this  tribute  of  an 
orphan's  grateful  tear.  As  one  who  still  more  recently  enjoyed 
the  warmth  of  his  friendliness,  I  place  this  wreath  of  thankful- 
ness upon  his  bier. 

I  cannot  choose  but  think,  as  I  stand  here  upon  this  plat- 
form, how  I  owe  all  I  am,  or  ever  can  be,  to  this  institution, 
and,  therefore,  most  to  him  who  was  its  head  and  front.  In 
memory,  I  cannot  help  but  trace  my  steps  back  to  the  time 
when  last  I  stood  upon  this  platform.  It  was  as  a  child,  when 
I  read  on  each  succeeding  Sabbath  to  my  fellow-inmates  the 
weekly  portion  from  the  sacred  Scriptures,  Then  came  the 
time  when  I  was  discovered  to  myself,  as  it  were.  It  was 
suggested  to  me  that  I  study  for  the  ministry.  My  soul 
grasped  the  proffered  chance  with  childish  eagerness.  My 
little  young  mind  grew  bigger  and  older  with  the  thought. 
And— well,  now  I  have  the  honor  to  be  Rabbi  elect  of  the 
Reform  Congregation  of  Boston. 

You  will  pardon  this  bit  of  personal  history.  I  give  it,  not 
in  order  to  boast,  but  to  make  this  public  expression  of  my 


MEMORIAL  SERVICES  105 

gratitude  to  the  institution  to  which  I  owe  my  career,  and  to 
acknowledge  before  the  world  my  debt  to  the  man  whose 
efforts,  above  all  others,  made  the  present  prosperous  condi- 
tion of  this  institution  possible.  Nor  do  I  speak  for  myself 
alone,  but  in  behalf  of  the  hundreds  now  living  here,  who 
enjoy  comfort  and  cleanliness  and  elevating  influences,  in 
place  of  the  cramped  and  oft  debasing  influences  from  which 
they  were  rescued.  I  speak  in  behalf  of  the  hundreds  of 
fatherless  and  motherless  who  once  lived  here,  many  them- 
selves now  fathers  and  mothers.  Especially  do  I  speak  in 
behalf  of  those  whom  the  opportunities  given  in  this  institu- 
tion have  made  honorable,  intelligent  and  useful  members  of 
society. 

To  all  ihe  world,  Mr  Seligman  has  given  the  best  of  man's 
gifts— himself.  To  us  orphans,  in  particular,  has  passed  the 
dead  one's  richest  legacy — the  lesson  of  his  life  itself.  For, 
through  such  a  life  as  his,  tfiat  trite  old  proverb  from  the 
"Psalm  of  Life"  again  gains  freshness,  so  that  we  can  now 
say  with  a  new  meaning : 

"Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us 
We  can  make  our  lives  sublime." 

Who  can  weigh  the  beneficent  effect,  the  moral  influence, 
of  his  quiet  cheer,  his  ever  ready,  kindly  interest  and  advice  ? 
Who  can  follow  the  innumerable  secret  streams  which  flowed 
unceasingly  from  the  crystal  fountain  of  his  goodness  ? 

Has  this  fountain  now  run  dry  ?  Can  it  be  that  Jesse 
Seligman  is  really  dead  ?  Indeed,  we  shall  see  his  genial  face 
no  more.  These  halls  that  have  so  often  echoed  to  his  tread 
shall  never  again  hold  him  within  their  walls.  This  house, 
so  long  his  second  home,  must  evermore  in  vain  await  his 
coming.  "The  place  that  has  known  him  shall  know  him  no 
more." 

Is  he,  then,  really  dead?  No,  a  thousand  times  No!  The 
sun,  though  set,  still  shines  in  the  star's  radiant  glitter,  and 
in  the  moon's  reflected  ray.  So  Jesse  Seligman  still  lives  and 
will  live  on  forever  in  the  lives  of  others,  through  the  influ. 
ence  of  noble  character  and  charitable  deed. 

In  the  lives  of  all  who  have  known  him — and  especially  in 


I06  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

the  lives  of  all  his  orphan-children — the  character  and  moral 
influence  of  the  man,  whom  we  have  gathered  here  to  glorify, 
will  live  on  long  after  the  name  "Seligman"'  has  crystallized 
into  a  synonym  for  honor  and  philanthrophy.  Love  begets 
love.  Therefore,  he  lives  and  will  live  on  forever  in  the  love 
of  all  his  fellow-men. 

Then  let  us  thank  God  for  the  life  which,  in  taking  back  to 
Himself,  He  has  now  given  in  its  full,  rounded  beauty  to  the 
world.  Bearing  all  this  in  mind,  shall  we  say  that  Jesse 
Seligman  is  dead  ?     No!  "  'Tis  death  is  dead — not  he  !  " 

Rev.  Dr.  Kohler  followed  Mr.  Fleischer  with  an  earnest 
prayer,  after  which  Mourners'  Kaddish  was  recited  by  Dr. 
Baar.     The  choir  ended  the  services  by  singing  "Adon  01am." 

Concluding  Prayer  by  Dr.  Kohler, 
O  Lord,  God  of  the  Spirit  of  all  flesh  !  We  thank  Thee 
for  this  day  sacred  to  every  American  heart,  bright  with  the 
holy  fire  of  patriotism,  with  the  glory  of  loving  devotion  and 
loyalty  to  our  country,  to  liberty  and  to  humanity.  We  thank 
Thee  for  the  day  solemnized  by  tears  of  affectionate  remem- 
brance and  by  garlands  of  grateful  appreciation  laid  upon 
the  grives  of  the  noble  and  the  brave  who  died  in  order  that 
our  country  and  its  boons  of  freedom  and  of  human  greatness 
may  live.  Thy  blessing  we  invoke  upon  the  memory  of  a 
soldier,  free  and  brave,  in  the  field  of  American  philanthropy, 
of  a  leader  in  loyalty  to  our  country  and  to  our  faith.  With 
eyes  still  dim  with  tears,  and  with  hearts  pierced  with  grief 
at  the  loss  of  a  great  leader  and  prince  in  the  field  of  Jewish 
learning,  a  torchbearer  of  the  truth  and  of  knowledge,  and  of 
the  light  of  faith  in  American  Israel  who  was  brought  to  his 
last  resting  place  yesterday,  we  have  gathered  to-day  to  lay 
down  our  tributes  of  love  and  esteem  and  lasting  gratitude 
upon  the  fresh  grave  of  a  great  banner-bearer  of  love  and 
benevolence,  of  a  princely  practical  exponent  of  the  teachings 
of  Judaism,  the  much-lamented  and  never  to  be  forgotten 
Jesse  Seligman. 

Precious  in  Thy  eyes,  O  Lord,  is  the  death  of  the  righteous. 
Thy  messenger  of  peace,  while  hiding  them  from  our  mortal 


MEMORIAI.  SERVICES  I  07 

sight,  carries  them  in  the  garb  of  beauty  of  Thy  holiness,  into 
realms  of  serener  light,  where  they  shine  like  the  stars,  shed- 
ding rays  of  comfort  and  cheer  upon  thousands  of  coming 
generations. 

And  though  we  are  grieved  to  think  that  the  inspiring  ex- 
ample, the  leadership  of  Jesse  Seligman  in  the  work  of  Jewish 
charity  and  education  no  longer  spurs  us  and  charms  us  all 
on  to  duty  ;  though  we  sorely  miss  the  wise  counsel,  the  ener- 
getic enthusiasm  and  the  benign  smile  of  the  goodly  man  ; 
though  that  warm  Jewish  heart,  grand  in  its  simplicity,  modest 
in  its  wide  interests,  that  model  friend  and  father  of  the 
orphan,  is  no  longer  in  our  midst,  we  yet  feel,  as  we  were 
taught  by  our  rabbis  of  yore  concerning  Abraham,  Thy  ser- 
vant, that  the  jewel  he  wore  on  his  breast — wherewith  he 
dried  the  tears  and  healed  the  wounds,  and  assuaged  the  suffer- 
ings of  the  helpless,  the  homeless  and  the  fatherless — Thy 
hand  took,  as  he  died,  and  lifted  it  to  the  sky  that  it  may  con- 
tinue there  a  power  for  good  unto  ages. 

And  so  we  thank  Thee,  for  the  beautiful  life  which  it  was 
our  privilege  to  own.  We  thank  Thee  for  the  deeds  achieved, 
for  the  influences  exerted,  for  the  seeds  scattered  by  this  life 
now  garnered  in  Thy  treasure-house  of  bliss  eternal,  May  it 
continue  to  work  blessing  amongst  us  as  a  testimony  to  Ameri- 
can loyalty  and  greatness  of  soul,  as  a  lesson  and  example  of 
Jewish  philanthropy.  May  Jesse  Seligman  forever  stand  at 
Thy  mercy-seat,  O  Most  High,  as  an  angel  of  love,  pleading 
for  the  shelterless,  for  the  orphan,  for  the  children  of  the  poor, 
for  the  outcast  and  persecuted,  the  feeble  and  down-trodden 
of  every  creed  and  race,  and  claiming  from  the  wealthy  the 
elevation  and  education  of  the  children  of  the  needy. 

We  crave  Thy  blessing  for  this  noble  monument  of  charity 
this  magnificent  institute  of  education  o(  the  Hebrew  orphan, 
with  which  his  name  will  be  forever  identified  as  the  one  who 
has  been  chiefly  instrumental  in  rendering  it  the  pride  and 
glory  of  our  community.  Bless  the  grand  and  beneficent  work 
done  here  in  Thy  holy  name.  Bless  the  institution,  its  found. 
ers  and  its  present  administrators,  its  wise  and  whole-souled 
superintendent,  his  efficient  staff  of  teachers  and  helpers,  and 
grant  all  the  glorious  institutions  of  philanthropy  and  educa- 


I08  JESSE    SELIGMAN 

^ion  of  our  city  and  of  our  country,  Thy  grace  and  crowning, 
success. 

Especially  do  we  bless  Thee  to-day  and  invoke  Thy  bless- 
ing, for  this  matchless  land  of  liberty  which  Thou  in  Thy  un- 
speakable love  hast  made  a  shelter  for  the  persecuted.  Bless 
our  glorious  Republic  for  the  golden  opportunities  offered  here 
to  every  industrious  hand  and  every  brave  heart,  for  the 
liberalizing  and  ennobling  influences  she  has  exerted  upon 
humanity,  and  the  Jewish  race  in  particular.  Grant,  O  God, 
that  American  Judaism  may  ever  hold  the  memory  of  her 
great  sons  dear.  May  Israel's  children  forever  shed  lustre 
upon  this  land  of  liberty,  upon  the  American  flag,  upon  our 
ancient  faith,  and  work  peace  and  blessing  among  all  men  and 
nations  on  earth,  tliat  out  of  the  homes  of  the  rich  and  the 
poor,  from  the  hands  and  lips  of  the  living  and  from  the  mem- 
ory of  the  dead,  one  great  anthem  of  praise  and  thanksgiving 
may  arise,  joining  the  angelic  chorus  in  the  cry  :  Holy,  Holy^ 
Holy  is  the  Lord  of  hosts,  the  world  is  full  of  His  majesty, 
Amen. 


Newspaper  Extracts. 


Hcxuspapcr  ^^etvact^. 


c-? 


The  San  Francisco  (Cal.)  Rei>ort,  April  2j,  iSgd. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  born  in  Bavaria  sixty-seven  years  ago.  He 
came  to  California  in  pioneer  times  and  was  prominent  as  a 
merchant  in  the  firm  of  J.  Seligman  &  Co.  He  was  a  patriotic 
and  useful  citizen  and  was  prominent  as  a  member  of  the  old 
Vigilance  Committee  and  also  belonged  to  the  old  Volunteer  Fire 
Department.  Just  before  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  removed  to 
New  York,  becoming  a  member  of  the  banking  firm  of  J.  &  W. 
Seligman,  which  was  composed  of  seven  brothers  of  this  family, 
with  Joseph  Seligman  as  the  head.  Upon  the  death  of  Joseph, 
Jesse  became  the  head  of  the  firm. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  always  prominent  for  his  charities.  He  was 
a  staunch  Republican  and  his  advice  was  frequently  sought  by 
the  financial  administrators  of  the  United  States.  He  leaves  a 
widow,  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

New  York  Commercial  Advertiser,  April  2j,  18^4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  who  was  the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W. 
Seligman  &  Co. ,  left  here  ten  days  ago  in  his  private  car  in  company 
with  his  wife  and  daughter.  He  was  then  in  a  very  enfeebled 
state.  For  several  months  he  had  been  much  run  down  in  health, 
and  the  trip  was  advised  by  his  physician  as  the  best  manner  of 
recovering  his  health. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  head  of  the  great  banking  firm  of  J.  &  W. 
Seligman  &  Co.  of  New  York,  was  born  in  a  little  Bavarian  hamlet 
in  1827.  The  income  of  his  parents  was  sadly  out  of  proportion 
with  the  number  of  children,  hence  young  Jesse  was  compelled, 
while  still  a  small  lad,  to  contribute  his  share  of  work  toward  the 
support  of  the  family,  and  v/hile  this  may  have  deprived  him  of 
some  of  the  sports  and  joys  which  fall  to  the  lot  of  more  fortunate 
children,  it  created  in  him  those  qualities  of  diligence  and  inde- 
pendence of  thought  and  action  which  did  much  to  make  him  a 
conspicuous  figure  of  his  time. 

At  the  age  of  14  he  came  to  America  to  join,  in  Alabama,  his 
three  older  brothers ;  but  two  years  was  .enough  of  Southern  life 
for  the  Bavarian  boy.  He  had  worked  hard,  and  with  his  savings 
came  North  and  settled  at  Watertown,  N.  Y. ,  and  was  doing  nicely 
there  when  the  gold  fever  broke  out,  and  he  was  swept  by  the 
flood  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  spirit  of  adventure  did  not  prompt 
this  step  so  much  as  the  desire  to  grasp  the  opportunity  which  was 


112  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

offered  for  successful  mercantile  enterprise.  It  was  as  a  merchant, 
not  as  the  gold-digger,  that  Jesse  Seligman  went  to  California,  and 
his  success  was  a  further  demonstration  of  his  adaptability  and 
good  judgment. 

In  a  short  time  he  amassed  a  comfortable  fortune,  but  his 
business  enterprises  never  so  far  engrossed  his  attention  that  he 
could  not  interest  himself  in  public  affairs.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  first  citizens'  committee,  which  was  organized  to  oppose  the 
mob  which  terrorized  California,  and  later  on  he  was  a  valuable 
member  of  the  famous  "Committee  of  Forty,"  through  whose 
labors  the  government  of  San  Francisco  was  wrested  from  a  band 
of  political  freebooters. 

In  1S57  Mr.  Seligman  came  to  New  York,  and  in  1862,  together 
with  his  brothers,  founded  the  banking  house  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman 
&  Co.,  which  soon  assumed,  and  still  maintains,  an  important 
position  in  the  commercial  world.  It  was  Jesse  Seligman  who 
placed  the  first  United  States  bonds  in  European  markets,  and 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  the  confidential 
adviser  of  the  Government  in  financial  matters.  He  was  always 
an  ardent  Republican,  and  though  in  close  touch  with  many 
administrations,  he  persistently  declined  to  accept  public  office. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  wealth  was,  to  a  great  extent,  a  means  to  a  noble 
end.  He  was  an  arduous  laborer  in  the  cause  of  charity  and 
closely  identified  with  a  number  of  public  charities,  one  of  his  pets 
being  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the 
founders,  and  over  whose  Board  of  Managers  he  presided. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  married  at  Munich,  Bavaria,  in  1854,  to  Miss 
Henrietta  Hillman  of  that  city,  a  highly  educated  woman.  They 
have  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Without  being  aggressive  or  obtrusive  on  the  subject,  Mr. 
Seligman  was  always  an  earnest  upholder  of  the  tenets  of  Judaism, 
and  closely  identified  with  its  charities  and  the  Temple  Emanu-El. 
Jesse  Seligman's  genius  as  a  financier  won  him  the  admiration  of 
the  commercial  world,  but  a  higher  place,  that  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  he  secured  by  his  broad  philanthropy. 

Thk  Mail  and  Express,  April  2j,   iSg4. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  Hebrews  in  New 
York.  He  was  a  very  rich  man,  his  wealth  being  reckoned  in  the 
millions. 

During  the  panic  of  last  year  his  banking  house  was  one  of  the 
first  to  come  forward  and  urge  the  expediency  of  the  government 
issuing  bonds.  J.  &  W.  Seligman  &  Co.  were  large  subscribers  to 
the  last  issue. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  II3 

Mr.  Seligman  was  a  staunch  Republican  in  politics,  and  his  name 
has  frequently  been  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  nomination 
for  the  Mayoralty. 

The  venerable  banker  was  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club, 
a  trustee  of  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  a  member  of  the 
Geographical  Society  and  a  trustee  of  the  American  Museum  of 
Natural  History. 

His  banking  firm  were  the  fiscal  agents  of  the  State  Department 
during  the  Harrison  administration. 

The  firm  has  branches  in  Paris,  London  and  Frankfort. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  born  in  Europe  of  poor  but  honest  parents. 

After  his  coming  to  America,  Jesse  Seligman  and  his  brother, 
James,  first  went  into  the  clothing  business,  in  which  they  made 
considerable  money  and  laid  the  foundation  of  the  family  fortunes. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  in  business  in  New  Orleans  and  San  Fran- 
cisco before  coming  to  New  York. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  noted  for  his  charities,  which  were  wide- 
spread. He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum  and  of  the  Montefiore  Home. 

The  World,  April  2j,  i8g4. 

Mr.  Seligman  has  been  more  than  fifty  years  in  America.  Fol- 
lowing his  three  elder  brothers,  he  left  his  Bavarian  home  and 
came  to  New  York  in  1841.  He  joined  his  brothers  in  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  where  he  learned  to  speak  English. 

The  brothers  went  to  Mobile,  but  as  that  city  was  too  large  for 
their  small  capital  they  finally  moved  to  Selma,  Ala.  They  were 
peddlers,  and  carried  their  own  packs.  Jesse  was  prosperous,  and 
when  only  fifteen  years  old  he  owned  his  own  store  and  employed 
clerks. 

The  California  fever  of  1849  came  over  him,  and  he  took  a 
supply  of  goods  by  way  of  Panama  to  San  Francisco.  He  started 
a  flourishing  business,  and  soon  afterwards  a  great  fire  swept 
away  nearly  every  store  except  his  own,  He  visited  his  native 
land  in  the  fifties,  and  in  Munich  met  the  young  woman  whom  he 
married. 

In  1857,  one  of  his  elder  brothers  helped  the  Government  in  its 
finances,  and  then  the  Seligmans  went  to  banking. 

During  his  residence  in  California,  while  mob  rule  prevailed 
there,  Mr.  Seligman  became  a  prominent  member  of  the  Vigilance 
Committee,  which  was  organized  to  put  it  down  and  restore  order. 
He  was  subsequently  a  member  of  the  famous  Committee  of 
Forty,  which  undertook  to  put  the  affairs  of  San  Francisco  in  the 
hands  of  men  who  would  conduct  them  in  the  interest  of  the 


114  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

citizens  and  not  of  the  political  freebooters.  The  purpose  ,was 
accomplished. 

Mr.  Seligman  came  to  New  York  in  1857,  s^nd  in  1S62  the  present 
banking-house  was  established.  He  was  a  staunch  Union  man 
during  the  war.  His  house  was  the  first  to  place  United  States 
Government  bonds  abroad. 

Mr.  Seligman  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  formation  of  the 
party,  and  was  always  active  in  its  affairs.  He  never  held  oifice, 
but  was  often  urged  to  allow  the  use  of  his  name  as  the  Repub- 
lican candidate  for  Mayor  of  New  York. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  charities  were  innumerable.  The  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum,  which  he  founded  thirty  years  ago,  will  be  an 
endearing  monument  to  his  name.  It  is  one  of  the  most  admirable 
institutions  in  New  York. 


The  Evening  Post,  April  2j,  iSg^. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  born  in  Baiesdorf  in  Bavaria  in  1825,  and 
was  the  fourth  of  eight  brothers,  each  of  whom  received  a  good 
education.  In  183S  his  elder  brother,  Joseph,  came  to  this  country, 
and  soon  after  his  arrival  secured  employment  with  Judge  Asa 
Packer,  ultimately  becoming  his  private  secretary  and  the  cashier 
of  the  bank  at  Nesquehoning,  Pa.  He  got  along  so  well  that  he 
sent  home  for  three  other  brothers,  including  Jesse,  furnishing 
them  with  the  passage  money.  Jesse  Seligman  arrived  in  this 
city  in  1840,  and  immediately  purchased  a  stock  of  articles  of 
household  use,  and  began  his  new  life  as  a  peddler.  He  continued 
in  that  business  for  three  years  without  much  success,  but  after 
that  business  began  to  improve,  and  he  was  enabled  to  save  a 
little  money,  until  in  1848  he  found  himself  a  small  capitalist  for 
those  days.  In  1849,  when  the  discovery  of  gold  was  made  in 
California,  young  Seligman  invested  all  of  his  capital  in  ready- 
made  clothing  and  started  for  the  Pacific.  When  he  arrived  in 
San  Francisco  in  the  summer  of  1849,  he  immediately  hired  the 
only  brick  store  in  the  place  and  began  business,  being  remark- 
ably successful  from  the  start.  In  spite  of  the  reports  of  suddenly 
gained  riches  he  never  took  part  in  any  speculation,  but  attended 
strictly  to  business,  making  enormous  profits  upon  his  stock, 
which  he  increased  as  rapidly  as  was  possible  under  the  circum- 
stances. In  1857,  the  placer  mining  began  to  decline  rapidly, 
and  while  he  was  still  doing  a  good  business  he  concluded  to  join 
his  brothers  in  the  East,  because  of  the  larger  opportunities  here. 
In  New  York  he  found  his  brothers  Joseph  and  James  in  the 
wholesale  clothing  business,  and  became  a  member  of  their  firm. 

When  the  war  broke  out  in  1861,  the  Seligman  brothers  were 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  II5 

well  prepared  for  it  and  while  they  suffered  in  a  measure  in  com- 
mon with  the  other  merchants  in  the  losses  from  obligations  in 
the  South,  they  were  actually  hurt  very  little,  owing  to  the 
guarded  manner  in  which  they  conducted  their  business.  During 
the  war  the  firm  took  many  government  contracts  for  clothing ; 
afterwards  they  concluded,  in  1865,  to  give  up  the  clothing  busi- 
ness and  in  that  year  the  present  banking  house  was  established 
in  which  all  of  the  eight  brothers  eventually  became  members. 
Branches  were  soon  established  in  London,  Paris,  Amsterdam, 
Frankfort,  San  Francisco  and  New  Orleans,  and  since  that  time 
the  house  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  many  United  States 
government  transactions. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  heavily  interested  in  the  Panama  Canal 
enterprise,  and  was  at  the  head  of  the  American  syndicate  formed 
to  place  the  shares  in  this  country.  He  was  a  prominent  member 
of  the  Union  League  Club  until  he  resigned  a  short  time  ago,  be- 
cause of  the  refusal  of  the  Club  to  elect  his  son  as  a  member.  He 
leaves  a  widow  and  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Brooklyn  Times,  April  2j,  i8g4. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  one  of  the  best  known  bankers  in  this  coun- 
try. He  was  head  of  the  banking  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  &  Co., 
whose  headquarters  are  in  New  York  with  agencies  in  London, 
Paris,  Amsterdam,  Frankfort,  San  Francisco  and  New  Orleans, 
and  connections  with  the  leading  banks  and  banking  houses  of 
South  America  and  the  West  Indies.  He  was  the  second  of  eight 
brothers,  Joseph,  Jesse,  William,  Abraham,  Leopold,  Isaac, 
James  and  Henry. 

Mr.  Seligman  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  formation  of  the 
party,  and  was  always  active  in  its  affairs.  He  never  held  oflice, 
but  was  often  urged  to  allow  the  use  of  his  name  as  the  Republican 
candidate  for  Mayor  of  New  York.  His  charities  are  innumerable. 

The  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  which  he  founded  thirty  years 
ago,  and  of  which  he  was  President,  is  an  enduring  monument  to 
his  name.  It  is  one  of  the  most  admirable  institutions  in  New 
York.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  Gen.  Grant  and  contributed 
largely  to  the  Grant  fund,  of  which  he  was  one  of  the  trustees. 
He  leaves  a  large  famil^^ 

Brooklyn  Eagle,    April  2j,  18^4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  &  Co.,  bankers  of  New 
York  and  London,  died  in  the  Hotel  del  Coronado,  (Cal.),  at  9 
o'clock  this  morning  from  pneumonia  and  Bright' s  disease.  Mr. 
Seligman  came  to  Coronado  four  daj'S  ago  direct  from  New  York 


\ 


Il6  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

with  his  wife  and  daughter.  His  condition  had  become  so  serious 
on  his  arrival  that  all  of  the  members  of  his  family  were  tele- 
graphed for,  but  he  died  before  their  arrival. 

In  April,  iSSo, when  Joseph  Seligman  died,  Jesse  became  the  head 
of  the  firm,  and  presided  over  the  parent  house  in  New  York.  In 
1879,  when  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  Sherman  placed  upon  the 
market  $150,000,000  4  per  cent,  bonds,  at  the  advice  of  Jesse 
Seligman  his  firm  took  $20,000,000.  The  Black  Friday  panic  left 
the  Seligman  firm  untouched.  The  stability  of  the  house  was 
attributed  largely  to  the  careful  and  far-seeing  management  of 
Jesse.  The  bankers  were  largely  interested  in  the  Panama  Canal 
project  and  the  southern  railroad  system. 

Jesse  Seligman  regarded  the  future  relations  of  the  United 
States  and  Mexico  as  of  vast  importance,  and  was  a  staunch  sup- 
porter of  all  enterprises  looking  toward  a  closer  connection  be- 
tween them.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club  and 
several  other  organizations.  He  was  also  a  regular  attendant  at 
Temple  Emanu-El  congregation,  at  Forty-third  street  and  Fifth 
Avenue,  New  York.  He  was  President  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum  and  was  a  member  of  many  charitable  organizations, 
irrespective  of  creed  or  nationality.  His  gifts  to  private  charities 
were  extremely  liberal.  Mr.  Seligman' s  family  consisted  of  three 
sons  and  three  daughters. 

Philadelphia  (Pa.)  Bulletin,  April  2j,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  J.  &  \V.  Seligman  &  Co.,  bankers.  New 
York  and  London,  died  at  the  Hotel  Del  Coronado,  (Cal.  ,)at9 
A.  M.  to-day,  from  pneumonia  and  Bright's  disease.  He  came  to 
Coronado  four  days  ago,  direct  from  New  York,  with  his  wife  and 
daughter.  His  condition  has  become  so  serious  on  his  arrival 
that  all  the  members  of  his  family  were  telegraphed  for,  but  he 
died  before  their  arrival. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  a  Republican  since  the  formation  of  the 
party,  and  was  always  active  in  its  affairs.  He  never  held  office, 
but  was  often  urged  to  allow  the  use  of  his  name  as  the  Repub- 
lican candidate  for  Mayor  of  New  York.  His  charities  were  in- 
numerable. The  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  which  he  founded 
thirty  years  ago,  and  of  which  he  is  President,  will  be  an  endur- 
ing monument  to  his  name.  It  is  one  of  the  most  admirable  insti- 
tutions in  New  York. 

A  friend  of  the  Seligmans  writes  that  they  are  Hebrews,  and 
were  formerly  peddlers  and  dealers  in  old  clothes ;  but  the  im- 
mediate parents  of  the  family  now  so  well  known  were  well 
enough  off  to  give  to  their  eight  sons  a  fair  education.     Indeed, 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  II7 

Joseph,  the  eldest,  was  a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Erlangen, 
and  had  scholarly  aptitudes.  It  was  Joseph  who  had  the  personal 
difficulty  with  Judge  Hilton  which  led  to  the  famous  anti-Jewish 
ukase  banishing  Hebrews  from  the  Grand  Union  Hotel  at  Sara- 
toga. 

In  1857,  the  Seligmans  became  immense  clothing  contractors, 
and  their  profits  were  so  enormous  that  at  the  close  of  the  war 
their  means  were  ample  enough  for  them  to  relinquish  their  cloth- 
ing business  and  to  open  a  banking-house.  In  that  year  all  the 
eight  brothers  became  members  of  the  firm.  Their  names  were 
Joseph,  Jesse,  William,  Abraham,  Leopold,  Isaac,  James  and 
Henry.  Joseph,  the  leader  among  the  brothers,  died  some  years 
ago.  He  was  a  man  of  ideas  apart  from  his  business,  and  in 
religious  matters  he  became  a  radical  of  the  extremest  sort.  He 
was  a  follower  and  a  principal  supporter  of  Felix  Adler,  the  elo- 
quent young  Jew  who  preaches  on  Sunday  mornings  in  Chickering 
Hall,  New  York,  advocating  in  his  own  phraseology,  "  Deeds  in- 
stead of  Creeds."  Jesse  never  went  as  far  as  Joseph  in  religious 
matters ;  but  he  and  all  his  brothers  belong  to  the  liberal  or 
reformed  Jews,  who  worship  in  the  Temple  Emanu-El,  in  Fifth 
avenue.  There  is  but  little  to  distinguish  them  from  orthodox 
Unitarians. 

The  house  of  Seligman  has  branches  in  all  the  financial  centres  I 
of  the  world.  It  has  agencies  m  London,  Paris,  Amsterdam  ' 
Frankfort,  San  Francisco,  New  Orleans,  and  connections  with  the 
leading  banking-houses  of  South  America  and  the  West  Indies. 
Jesse  was  for  a  long  time  the  head  of  the  house,  and  enjoyed  the 
distinction  of  being  ex-President  Grant's  banker.  He  had  intimate 
personal  relation  with  the  ex-President,  and  they  owned  adjoin- 
ing cottages  at  Long  Branch.  i 

The  Seligmans  have  made  a  great  deal  of  money  by  their  con- 
nection with  the  government  as  contractors,  bankers  and  members 
of  the  various  syndicates  for  placing  the  governments  loans. 

Philadelphia  (Pa.)  Telegraph,  April  2j,  i8g4. 

In  the  financial  schemes  of  the  Government  Jesse  Seligman  was 
more  than  once  a  trusted  adviser.  In  the  refunding  measures 
of  Secretary  Sherman  in  1879,  when  $150,000,000  of  4  per  cent, 
bonds  were  placed  upon  the  market,  the  Seligman  Brothers  took 
$20,000,000. 

The  Seligmans  have  survived  every  panic,  including  the 
memorable  "  Black  Friday."  Not  only  as  a  banker  did  Jesse 
Seligman  achieve  success.  His  investments  in  Southwestern 
railroads  have  brought  him  in  handsome  returns.     Another  in- 


i 


K 


Il8  JESSE   SEUGMAN 

vestment  not  so  fortunate  was  made  in  the  Panama  Canal  project. 
Always  a  faithful  adherent  of  the  Hebrew  faith,  Mr.  Seligman 
was  President  of  the  New  York  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  and  is 
deeply  interested  in  many  other  Hebrew  charitable  organizations. 
He  was  a  prorriinent  member  of  the  New  York  League  Club.  Mr. 
Seligman  has  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

San  Diego  (Cal.)  Sun,  Ap7-il  2j,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  famous  New  York  banker,  died  at  the 
Hotel  del  Coronado  this  morning  at  9. 30.  Mr.  Seligman  arrived 
at  the  hotel  on  last  Friday  with  his  wife  and  two  daughters.  He 
had  been  treated  in  New  York  for  some  time,  but  the  nature  of 
the  disease  was  there  said  to  be  something  quite  different  from 
what  the  physicians  here  pronounced  it.  Bright' s  disease.  He 
was  infirm  when  he  arrived,  but  was  not  thought  to  be  in  danger 
till  yesterday  when  it  was  seen  that  a  crisis  was  imminent,  and 
his  physician  said,  twenty-four  hours  would  determine  whether 
he  would  die  quickly  or  convalesce.  This  morning  he  grew 
rapidly  worse,  but  retained  consciousness  till  the  very  last. 

The  body  was  brought  over  by  Johnson  &  Co.,  where  it  will  be 
embalmed  and  await  the  arrival  of  the  three  sons,  one  of  whom  is 
in  Montana,  but  all  of  whom  started  this  morning  on  special  trains 
for  San  Diego.  Upon  their  arrival,  the  family  will  accompany  the 
remains  back  to  New  York. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  one  of  the  greatest  of 'New  York  bankers, 
and  his  wealth  is  rated  at  many  millions.  He  was  largely  inter- 
ested in  Santa  Fe  and  other  railroad  stocks.  Deceased  was 
sixty-six  years  of  age,  a  native  of  Germany. 

The  World,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Jesse  §eligman,  the  New  York  banker,  died  at  Coronado,  Cal., 
April  23,  a  little  after  g  A.  M.  The  end  came  peacefully,  and  con- 
sciousness was  retained  to  the  last.  Mr.  Seligman  came  to  Coron- 
ado last  Friday,  accompanied  by  Mrs.  Seligman  and  two 
daughters.  He  had  felt  for  some  time  that  his  health  was  im- 
paired, and  he  hoped  the  quiet  of  this  place  and  the  mild  climate 
would  restore  his  health.  He  expressed  himself  as  hopeful  when 
he  came  that  the  change  would  benefit  him,  and  for  a  time  it 
seemed  that  his  expectations  were  well  grounded. 

Shortly  afterwards,  however,  his  condition  became  serious,  and 
it  was  evident  yesterday  that  a  crisis  was  coming.  His  immediate 
family  was  notified  to  prepare  for  the  worst.  He  sank  steadily 
during  Sunday  night  and  until  he  died. 


NEWSPAPER  Extracts  119 

The  body  has  been  taken  to  an  undertaker  on  the  San  Diego 
side  of  the  bajs  where  it  will  be  embalmed  and  retained  until  the 
arrival  of  his  three  sons.  When  they  arrive  the  body  will  be  sent 
to  New  York. 

The  local  physicians  who  attended  Mr.  Seligman  say  Brighbs 
disease  caused  his  death.  They  declare  further  that  his  ailment 
was  not  properly  diagnosed  in  New  York,  and  that  his  treatment 
was  of  no  benefit.  He  was  supposed  to  be  suffering  from  pneu- 
monia when  he  came  here. 

At  the  banquet  which  was  given  to  Jesse  Seligman  October  i, 
1891,  at  Delmonico's,  by  the  officers  and  directors  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  there  was  paid  to  Mr.  Seligman  a  tribute  such 
as  few  private  citizens  have  received.  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  who  pre- 
sided at  this  meeting,  said  among  other  things ; 

"  Honored  by  the  best  of  the  nation  because  of  the  purity  of  his 
patriotism  and  his  loyalty  to  his  country,  respected  by  his  towns- 
men for  his  civic  virtues  and  public  services,  beloved  by  his  co- 
relisfionists  because  of  his  warm  devotion  to  his  race,  whose 
best  interests  he  stands  ever  ready  to  serve  and  defend,  Jesse 
Seligman  is,  we  proclaim  it  with  pride,  the  truest  and  best  ex- 
ponent of  the  type  of  a  man  and  a  Jew,  whom  only  a  great  country 
like  our  own  can  produce,  a  representative  Hebrew- American." 

It  was  in  the  admirable  speech  made  at  this  banquet  that  Mr. 
Seligman  told  something  of  his  life— a  life  that  has  won  for  him 
the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  people  of  this  city  and  those 
elsewhere  who  knew  him.  No  man  was  broader  in  his  views, 
more  tolerant,  more  kindly,  more  true  philanthropic.  It  was  said 
of  this  speech  that  it  should  be  placed  before  every  youth  in  the 
land,  that  he  might  profit  by  the  lessons  therein  contained. 

The  Financial  Recoi'd  has  said  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman, 
of  which  the  man  who  had  just  died  was  the  most  prominent 
member:  "The  name  of  Seligman  is  a  tower  of  strength  and 
synonymous  of  all  that  is  progressive,  liberal  and  influential,  not 
'  only  in  the  financial  marts  of  the  Western  continent,  but  in  Europe 
as  well." 

Jesse  Seligman  was  born  in  a  little  village  called  Stadt  Baiers- 
dorf,  Bavaria,  where  his  ancestors,  dating  back  over  200  years,  lie 
in  the  village  cemetery.  His  father  was  poor,  and  had  eight  sons 
and  three  daughters.  Jesse  Seligmar  was  born  in  1827.  His 
eldest  brother,  Joseph  Seligman,  was  graduated  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  Erlangen,  and  Jesse  attended  the  Gymnasium  in  that 
town  with  the  intention  of  entering  the  university. 

oseph  Seligman  was  the  first  of  the  family  to  come  to  this 


I20  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

country,  arriving  here  in  1837.  He  obtained  a  place  as  cashier 
with  Asa  Packer.  Two  years  later  the  next  older  brothers  came 
to  this  country.  They  wrote  home  glowing  letters  of  the  success 
which  they  had  here  and  the  possibilities  offered  by  the  new 
country.  Influenced  by  their  letters,  Jesse  gave  up  the  university 
and  May  i,  1S41,  he  started  for  Bremen.  There  he  took  passage  on 
a  small  ship  bearing  the  name  of  Johann  Georgic.  The  voyage 
took  forty  days,  and  during  that  time  he  slept  in  a  white-washed 
cabin  on  a  board  with  a  blanket  to  cover  him. 

Mr.  Seligman  landed  at  Castle  Garden  with  his  little  wooden 
box.  There  he  was  directed  to  a  good  hotel  where  he  could  stop 
at  the  rate  of  $1  a  week,  and  he  found  a  place  in  Division  street, 
where  he  remained  two  weeks.  Then  he  went  to  Lancaster,  Pa. , 
where  his  three  older  brothers,  Joseph,  William  and  James,  were 
in  a  small  business.  "I  remained  in  Lancaster  a  few  weeks,"  he 
has  said,  "during  which  time  I  learned  the  English  language  to 
some  extent,  and  at  the  same  time  mastered  the  science  of  smok- 
ing penny  cigars.  ' 

The  year  before  Jesse  came  to  this  country,  James  had  spent  a 
year  in  the  South,  returning  with  a  net  profit  of  about  $Soo,  and 
the  other  brothers  took  the  advice  of  this  purse-proud  nabob,  as 
Mr.  Seligman  has  described  him,  and  decided  to  move  to  that 
part  of  the  country.  The  four  brothers  came  to  New  York  and 
took  passage  on  a  schooner,  which,  taking  six  weeks  to  make  the 
trip  to  Mobile,  was  nearly  wrecked  on  the  way. 

Their  capital  was  small  and  would  not  permit  them  to  open  a 
business  in  a  city  so  large  as  Mobile,  and  they  went  to  Selma. 
There  they  opened  a  small  store.  Joseph  remained  in  charge, 
while  William,  James  and  Jesse  made  a  tour  of  the  surrounding 
country,  getting  information  and  selling  goods.  Their  capital 
increased  so  rapidly  that  they  were  enabled  to  open  other  stores 
at  Greensborough,  Eutaw  and  Clinton.  At  the  age  of  fifteen 
Jesse  Seligman  was  the  owner  of  his  own  store  in  Eutaw,  with 
two  clerks  in  his  employ. 

The  Seligmans  continued  prosperous  in  business  in  the  South 
until  1848,  when  they  decided  that  they  could  do  better  in  the 
North.  Two  of  them  came  to  this  city  and  established  an  import- 
ing business.  Jesse  and  Henry  closed  up  the  business  in  the 
South  and  then  went  to  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  where  they  opened  a 
dry-goods  business,  which  proved  very  profitable.  It  was  while 
he  was  in  Watertown  that  Jesse  Seligman  met  Gen.  Grant,  who 
was  then  a  lieutenant,  stationed  at  Sackett's  Harbor.  They  be- 
came warm  friends,  and  this  friendship  lasted  until  Gen.  Grant's 
death. 

When  the  gold  fever  broke  out  in  California,  Jesse  Seligman 


NEW.SPAPER   EXTRACTS  121 

saw  that  opportunities  for  making  money  rapidly  presented  them- 
selves in  San  Francisco,  so  in  1S50,  leaving  his  brother  Henry  in 
charge  of  the  Watertown  store,  and  being  accompanied  by  another 
brother,  Leopold,  who  had  come  over  from  Bavaria,  Jesse  Seligman 
started  for  San  Francisco,  taking  with  him  a  large  quantity  of 
merchandise  and  going  by  way  of  the  Isthmus.  He  had  much 
difficulty  in  getting  his  goods  carried  across  the  Isthmus,  because 
of  the  scarcity  of  mules.  He  opened  the  largest  store  in  San  Fran- 
cisco in  the  only  brick  building  in  that  place.  This  was  one  of  the 
few  buildings  which  escaped  the  great  fire  in  San  Francisco.  The 
volunteer  firemen  did  such  good  service  for  him  that  he  joined 
Howard  Company  No.  3  that  very  night,  and  he  ran  with  the 
machine  for  several  years.  This  fire  did  much  to  advance  his  for- 
tune in  those  days,  because  his  was  the  only  merchandise  house 
that  was  not  destroyed. 

Mr.  Seligman  speedily  became  known  in  San  Francisco  as  a 
public-spirited  citizen.  When  the  city  became  overrun  with 
robbers,  in  consequence  of  the  gold  excitement,  Mr.  Seligman 
was  made  one  of  the  famed  Committee  of  Twenty-one,  and  he  was 
one  of  its  most  active  members.  Company  No.  5,  of  which  he  was 
the  Captain,  did  particularly  good  service.  This  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee proceeded  against  the  desperadoes  with  such  vigor  and 
with  such  certainty  in  the  use  of  the  rope  that  they  were  speedily 
driven  out  of  the  city. 

When  San  Francisco  was  made  peaceful  and  law-abiding,  Mr. 
Seligman  went  to  Europe  to  visit  his  old  home.  This  was  in  1854. 
It  was  during  this  trip  that  he  met  in  Munich  the  young 'woman 
who  became  his  wife. 

When  he  returned  to  San  Francisco,  he  found  it  under  control 
of  disreputable  politicians,  and  in  1856  he  was  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Forty  selected  to  nominate  a  clean  ticket  and  purify  the 
City  Government.  Much  of  the  credit  for  the  success  of  this  com- 
mittee was  given  to  Mr.  Seligman.  The  following  year  his  inter- 
est in  civic  aft'airs  led  him  to  remain  in  San  Francisco  after  he  had 
planned  to  come  to  New  York.  This  probably  saved  his  life,  as  ■ 
he  had  taken  passage  on  the  Central  America,  which  went  down 
at  sea. 

Mr.  Seligman  came  to  New  York  in  the  fall  of  1857,  during  the 
great  panic.  From  then  until  his  death  he  made  New  York  his 
home.  For  several  j^ears  he  continued  his  California  business, 
looking  after  it  from  this  city.  It  was  about  this  time  that  the 
brothers  decided  to  enter  upon  the  banking  business.  This  was 
the  result  of  a  conclusion  that  their  capital  could  not  be  invested 
to  advantage  in  dealing  in  merchandise.  Joseph  Seligman,  now 
dead,  was  looked  upon  by  the  other  brothers  much  in  the  light  of 


/ 


122  JESSE  SEI<IGMAN 

a  father.  He  went  to  Europe  to  establish  a  banking-house  there, 
and  to  place  United  States  bonds  on  the  Frankfort  Bourse.  This 
latter  mission  was  a  peculiarly  delicate  one,  and  his  success  in 
enlisting  the  sympathy  and  support  of  the  capitalists  of  Germany 
in  behalf  of  our  Government  at  a  time  when  such  sympathy  and 
support  were  necessar}-  to  sustain  its  credit  did  much  towards 
giving  the  house  of  Seligman  that  high  place  in  the  confidence  of 
the  people  that  it  has  since  enjoyed. 

It  may  be  remarked  that  since  that  time  the  house  of  Seligman 
has  been  identified  with  every  syndicate  that  has  placed  United 
States  bonds,  and  more  particularly  with  the  issue  of  4  per  cent, 
bonds,  which  were  floated  when  John  Sherman  was  Secretary  of 
Treasury.  These  negotiations  have  had  the  effect  of  establishing 
the  credit  of  the  United  States  Government,  and  to-day  it  stands 
higher  than  that  of  any  other  Government  in  the  world. 

The  great  banking-house  of  Seligman  was  regularly  established 
in  1862,  and  two  years  later  other  houses  were  established  in 
Europe — the  London  house,  Messrs.  Seligman  Brothers,  which 
was  headed  by  Isaac  Seligman  ;  the  Paris  house,  Messrs.  Seligman 
Freres  &  Cie. ,  headed  by  William  Seligman ;  the  Frankfort  house, 
Messrs.  Seligman  &  Stettheimer,  at  the  head  of  which  is  Henry 
Seligman.  Later  hou.ses  w^ere  establi.shed  in  Berlin,  Am.sterdam, 
New  Orleans  and  San  Francisco. 

During  the  war  and  the  troubled  years  immediately  preceding 
it,  there  was  no  stauncher  Union  man  than  Jesse  Seligman.  He 
believed  in  the  Union  cause  with  all  his  heart  and  head,  because 
he  felt  that  it  was  right,  because  he  knew  that  it  would  ultimately 
triumph.  Never  did  he  hesitate  to  express  his  views.  The  service 
that  he  did  do  this  country  at  that  time  can  never  be  adequately 
measured.  He  enjoyed  the  absolute  confidence  of  the  Govern- 
ment. And  he  was  trusted  as  few  private  citizens  have  been 
trusted.  The  Seligmans  handled  nearly  all  of  the  delicate  financial 
business  of  the  Government  abroad,  and  this  confidence,  together 
with  the  wonderful  use  he  made  of  the  trust  given  him,  show  how 
genuine  was  his  patriotism  and  how  remarkable  his  financial 
genius. 

The  New  York  house  has  quarters  in  the  Mills  Building.  It  was 
under  the  personal  direction  of  James  and  Jesse  vSeligman.  Within 
the  past  few  years  the  house  has  been  heavily  interested  in  rail- 
road property,  particularly  Southwestern  securities.  It  also  made 
large  investments  in  street  railway  lines,  notably  in  the  surface 
railroads  of  Brooklyn, 

Mr.  Seligman  was  always  an  earnest  and  enthustiastic  Repub- 
lican. When  he  was  a  boy  in  Alabama  and  not  yet  old  enovigh  to 
vote  he  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  Henry  Clay.    In  the  campaign 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  1 23 

of  1844,  he  attended  a  barbecue  and  played  a  flute,  that  being  one 
of  the  things  he  could  do,  for  the  Whig  candidate.  Few  men  have 
given  more  money  to  the  Republican  party  than  he,  or  have  been 
more  enthusiastic  in  its  behalf,  yet  he  never  held  a  public  office. 

He  was  active  in  municipal  politics.  Time  and  again  he  was 
urged  to  accept  the  nomination  for  Mayor.  Republicans  used  to 
assert  that  there  was  never  a  time  when  he  could  not  have  been 
elected  had  he  consented  to  run. 

In  business  Mr.  Seligman  accumulated  a  fortune  estimated  at 
$10,000,000,  mostly  invested  in  bonds  and  stocks.  In  politics  he 
won  the  respect  of  the  bitterest  partisans.  But  his  enduring  fame 
rests  on  a  broader,  nobler,  securer  foundation.  It  rests  upon  the 
good  he  has  done  his  fellow-men.  No  man  was  broader,  more 
tolerant,  more  kindly.  Of  no  one  could  it  be  more  truly  said  that 
his  left  hand  did  not  know  what  his  right  was  doing.  This  spirit 
of  generous  help  characterized  also  his  wife  and  daughters. 

At  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-sixth  street  is  the  most  splendid 
monument  that  can  be  erected  to  his  memory.  It  is  the  great 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  which  he  established  in  1859.  Then  it 
had  only  fourteen  little  ones  and  a  capital  of  less  than  $10,000. 
From  that  daj^  until  the  day  of  his  death  this  great  institution  had 
the  benefit  of  Mr.  Seligman' s  personal  solicitude  and  his  great 
financial  skill.  He  was  its  President  for  more  than  twenty  years. 
Each  morning  when  he  came  to  the  office  the  first  thing  he  did 
was  to  telephone  to  the  superintendent  of  the  asylum  and  ask 
about  the  children.  He  had  a  personal  interest  in  each  one  of  the 
six  or  seven  hundred  who  lived  there.  Every  Sunday  morning 
when  he  was  in  the  city  Mr.  Seligman  always  visited  the  Asylum. 

He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  United  Hebrew  Chari- 
ties, and  contributed  to  that  association  large  sums  of  money.  He 
was  a  director  in  the  New  York  Association  for  Improving  the 
Condition  of  the  Poor,  and  t )  this  also  he  gave  freely.  But  there 
were  many  private  benefactions  of  which  no  one  knew  anything 
except  in  the  most  general  wa5^ 

The  last  year  of  the  life  of  this  great  and  good  man  was  embit- 
tered by  a  most  uncalled-for  insult,  vv'hich  is  known  as  the  Union 
League  affair,  and  it  is  significant  that  the  decline  of  Mr.  Selig- 
man's  health  dates  from  that  period.  His  banking-house  employees 
declare  that  it  had  much  to  do  with  his  death.  This  was  the 
black-balling  of  his  eldest  sun,  Theodore,  by  the  Union  League 
Club,  April  12,  1893.  Mr.  Seligman  himself  had  been  a  member 
of  the  Union  League  Club  from  a  year  after  it  was  founded  in 
1867.  He  was  one  of  its  most  enthustiastic  members,  and  to  him 
it  is  generally  admitted  much  of  the  credit  fur  its  success  is  due. 

For  f  out  teen  years  he  was  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  and  there 


124  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

was  no  more  respected  member  than  he.  In  1889,  the  name  of 
Theodore  Seligman  was  proposed  for  membership  by  Le  Grand  B. 
Cannon,  who  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Club.  The  name  was 
seconded  by  Gen.  Horace  Porter  and  others.  "When  the  time 
approached  for  the  election  upon  Theodore  Seligman's  name,  a 
young  element  in  the  club,  known  as  the  cafe  crowd,  aroused 
opposition  to  the  younger  Mr.  Seligman. 

Theodore  Seligman  is  a  cultivated  and  refined  gentleman,  who 
had  won  distinction  at  Harvard  and  at  the  bar,  and  is  a  valued 
member  of  the  Harvard,  Lotos,  Grolier  and  other  clubs.  But 
these  younger  men  of  the  Union  League  Club  fought  his  admis- 
sion. The  leaders  of  the  opposition  were  Charles  B.  Fosdick  and 
Walter  C.  Gibson,  while  on  the  other  hand,  Mr.  Seligman's  sup- 
porters included  such  men  as  Gen.  Porter,  Cornelius  N.  Bliss,  Le 
Grand  B.  Cannon,  Elihu  Root,  Joseph  H.  Choate  and  Thomas  L. 
James. 

The  cafe  crowd  numbers  about  200  out  of  the  1,600  members  of 
Club,  and  they  were  out  in  full  force  on  election  night.  Of  the 
323  votes  cast  187  were  against  Theodore  Seligman.  Those  who 
voted  against  Mr.  Seligman  said  that  they  had  no  (ibjecticm  to  him 
personally.  When  reporters  went  to  Jesse  Seligman  and  asked 
him  about  the  rejection  of  his  son,  he  said  : 

"I  have  no  comments  to  make.  It  is  a  private  club  matter,  and 
I  make  it  a  rule  never  do  discuss  such  questions.  I  can  only  say 
that  it  is  an  unfortunate  race  prejudice  that  caused  my  son's  rejec- 
tion." 

Jesse  Seligman  immediately  resigned  from  the  Union  League 
Club,  saying  that  if  his  son  was  not  good  enough  to  be  a  member, 
he  was  not.  By  an  overwhelming  vote  the  club  refused  to  accept 
Mr.  Seligman's  i-esignation.  It  was  laid  upon  the  table,  and  has 
not  since  been  acted  upon,  so  that  Jesse  Seligman  is  still  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  League  Club,  but  he  has  never  stepped  inside  its 
doors  since  his  son  was  rejected. 

But  save  for  the  gradually  departing  energy  and  the  altered 
appearance,  showing  the  departure  of  health,  no  one  saw  any 
change  in  Jesse  Seligman.  He  would  never  refer  to  the  Union 
League  incident  voluntarily,  and  when  it  was  spoken  of  in  his 
presence  he  drew  away  from  it  as  speedily  as  possible.  For  the 
past  few  months  he  has  been  growing  weaker.  Dr.  Loomis,  who 
attended  him,  found  that  his  heart  was  weak,  and  that  his  kidneys 
were  troubling  him.  He  recommended  a  trip  to  California.  April 
5th,  Mr.  Seligman,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two  younger 
daughters,  started  for  Southern  California.  At  Topeka  he  caught 
a  serious  cold.  Last  Saturday  word  came  that  he  was  seriousl  ill, 
and  the  two  sons  who  were  here  started  immediately  to  join  him. 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  1 25 

Mr.  Seligman  lived  in  a  handsome  house  at  No.  2  East  Forty- 
sixth  street,  He  leaves  six  children.  The  eldest,  Theodore,  is  a 
lawyer  with  an  office  in  the  Mills  Building.  Henry  was  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  banking  business.  Albert  is  in  Helena, 
Mont. ,  where  he  is  interested  in  mining.  The  eldest  daughter, 
Emma,  is  married  to  Henry  Wasserman,  of  Wasserman  Bros., 
bankers.     The  younger  daughters  are  Alice  and  Madeline. 

Perhaps  no  more  fitting  close  could  be  made  to  a  brief  sketch  of 
Mr.  Seligman' s  life  than  to  quote  his  own  words,  spoken  at  the 
October  banquet  in  1891,  referred  to  before  in  this  article.  Mr. 
Seligman,  by  the  way,  was  then  on  the  eve  of  going  abroad  at 
.  the  request  of  President  Harrison  to  arrange  for  the  International 
Bi-Metallism  Congress.  In  the  course  of  his  speech  that  night,  he 
said: 

"  My  success,  whatever  it  has  been,  I  attribute,  first,  to  the  fact 
that  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  become  a  citizen  of  this  great 
republic,  under  whose  beneficent  laws  the  poor  and  the  rich,  irre- 
spective of  race  or  creed,  have  equal  opportunities  of  education 
and  material  prosperity ;  secondly,  to  the  fact  that  I  have  always 
endeavored  to  extract  something  good  rather  than  evil  from  every- 
thing that  has  come  before  me,  which  has  had  the  effect  of  making 
lighter  the  car^s  and  tribulations  of  this  life ;  in  the  next  place,  to 
the  great  assistance  of  my  good  brothers,  to  the  companionship 
and  advice  of  a  loving  wife  and  children,  and,  above  all,  to-a  kind 
and  merciful  God." 


New  York  Daily  Tribune,  April  24,  i8g4. 

After  three  days'  illness  at  the  Coronado  Hotel,  Jesse  Seligman, 
of  the  New  York  firm  of  bankers,  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  died  this 
morning  from  what  the  physicians  have  determined  was  Bright' s 
disease.  Mr.  Seligman,  with  his  wife  and  two  daughters,  reached 
here  in  his  special  car  last  Friday.  He  was  very  weak,  and  it  had 
been  found  necessary  to  make  the  overland  journey  in  easy  stages, 
stopping  at  several  places  to  permit  the  banker  to  recuperate. 
The  fatigue  and  heat  of  the  ride  across  the  desert  reduced  Mr. 
Seligman' s  strength  greatly,  and  those  who  saw  him  when  he  was 
here  before,  thought  he  was  dangerously  ill.  His  family  and 
physician  appeared  to  feel  no  alarm,  however,  until  the  day  after 
his  arrival,  when  a  reaction  set  in.  The  patient  grew  worse,  and 
the  crisis  came  early  this  morning.  Then  it  was  seen  that  all  hope 
was  over.  Mr.  Seligman  retained  his  usual  clearness  of  mind  to 
the  end. 

A  post-mortem  showed  that  the  diagnosis  of  the  physicians  in 
New  York  was  wrong,  as  he  was  in  an  advanced  stage  of  Bright' s 


126  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

disease.  The  body  will  be  taken  East  by  the  family,  which  is 
now  awaiting  the  arrival  of  several  sons. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  a  large  property  owner  on  this  coast,  being 
the  power  behind  the  Anglo-California  Bank  of  San  Francisco  and 
the  owner  of  big  blocks  of  land  near  Golden  Gate  Park. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  the  architect  of  his  own  name  and  fortune, 
and  his  ability  as  a  financier  and  his  philanthropy  were  known, 
not  only  in  this  country,  but  abroad.  He  was  a  man  who  con- 
trolled vast  monetary  interests,  and  his  name  will  ever  be  coupled 
with  the  history  of  this  country  on  account  of  his  foresight  and 
ability,  by  which  the  United  States  was  first  able  to  place  its 
bonds  in  Europe. 

The  large  field  presented  by  the  monetary  affairs  of  this  country 
in  1S65  led  the  Seligmans  to  give  up  their  banking  business,  and 
they  determined  to  devote  their  large  capital  and  experience  to 
finance.  In  that  year  the  present  banking-house  at  No.  21  Broad 
street  was  established,  with  all  the  eight  Seligman  Brothers  as 
members.  The  National  debt  entailed  by  the  war  was  then  the 
principal  theme  of  discussion  among  financial  men,  and  the  Selig- 
mans devoted  particular  attention  to  it.  In  a  short  time  they 
became  known  to  be  among  the  ablest  bankers  in  the  country- 
Branches  of  the  house  were  established  in  many  cities  of  Europe, 
in  South  America  and  in  the  West  Indies.  Joseph  Seligman's 
death  in  i38o  placed  Jesse  at  the  head  of  the  firm. 

Since  the  extensive  banking  system  of  the  Seligmans  was 
founded,  Jesse  Seligman  has  taken  an  active  part  in  all  the  great 
financial  schemes  of  the  Government,  and  has  been  a  trusted 
adviser  of  more  than  one  Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  Through 
his  efforts  the  United  States  bonds  were  placed  in  Europe,  and  he 
did  much  toward  giving  the  United  States  a  sound  credit  abroad. 
In  the  refunding  measures  of  Secretary  Sherman  in  1879,  in  which 
$150,000,000  in  4  per  cent  bonds  were  placed  upon  the  market,  the 
Seligman  Brothers  took  $20,000,000.  Jesse  vSeligman's  confidence 
in  the  ability  of  the  United  States  Government  to  meet  its  obliga- 
tions never  wavered.  He  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  success  of 
Secretary  Sherman's  theory  of  specie  payment  resumption,  and 
more  than  once  Secretary  Sherman  called  him  to  Washington  to 
consult  with  him  on  the  financial  problems  of  the  Government. 

Mr.  Seligman's  policy  was  always  liberal,  but  still  close  enough 
to  insure  his  firm  against  the  vicissitudes  that  have  stranded  so 
many  capitalists.  He  was  regarded  as  among  the  ablest  financiers 
of  Wall  Street  and  America.  His  view  was  far-seeing  and  com- 
prehensive, and  he  never  really  failed  in  any  of  his  numerous 
undertakings. 

In   the  seventies,  he  became   identified  with  many  prominent 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  12/ 

commercial  enterprises  requiring  large  capital.  Among  them 
were  tlie  Panama  Canal  project,  and  his  firm  was  at  the  head  of 
the  American  syndicate  formed  for  placing  the  shares  of  the  De 
Lesseps  Company  in  America.  He  was  among  the  first  to  espouse 
the  project  of  a  canal  connection  between  the  Atlantic  and  the 
Pacific.  He  became  interested  in  the  Southern  system  of  rail- 
roads, and  his  firm  was  a  promoter  of  railroads  to  Mexico  and  San 
Francisco.  He  was  interested  in  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Rail- 
road, the  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco,  and  the  Western  New 
York  and  Pennsylvania.  Also  in  Brooklyn  and  New  Orleans 
surface  roads.  In  the  recent  issue  of  bonds  by  the  Government 
the  Seligmans  were  generous  subscribers. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  for  many  years  belonged  to  the  Union  League  Club.  He 
resigned  a  year  ago,  when  his  son  Theodore  was  blackballed.  He 
was  a  conscientious  adherent  to  the  Hebrew  faith,  and  was  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Temple  Emanu-El  congregation.  He 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  and  of 
the  Montefiore  Home.  He  was  an  active  worker  in  many  other 
charitable  organizations,  and  his  liberality  to  all  deserving  insti- 
tutions was  large.  He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Metropolitan  Museum 
of  Art,  a  member  of  the  Geographical  Society,  and  a  trustee  of 
the  American  Museum  of  Natural  History.  His  family  consisted 
of  his  wife,  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  wealth  is  estimated  at  various  figures.  It  is 
known  that  it  runs  far  up  into  the  millions.  He  had  many  oppor- 
tunities to  make  money,  which  he  never  failed  to  grasp,  and  while 
he  often  succeeded  where  others  failed,  he  never  put  his  hand  to 
any  undertaking  that  was  not  legitimate,  and  his  reputation 
among  his  associates  in  Wall  Street  is  unblemished.  The  announce- 
ment of  his  death  was  received  in  the  Street  with  sincere 
regret,  and  in  social,  club,  charitable  and  other  circles,  where  he 
was  so  well  known  and  liked,  his  death  caused  many  expressions 
of  heartfelt  sorrow. 

Mr.  Seligman  had  been  far  from  well  for  several  months,  and 
on  the  advice  of  his  physician  he  went  to  California  ten  days  ago. 
He  had  some  trouble  with  his  heart,  and  it  is  supposed  that  this 
was  one  of  the  causes  of  his  death.  His  wife  and  two  daughters 
were  with  him  at  the  end,  and  two  of  his  sons  were  in  Chicago, 
and  are  now  on  their  way  to  California,  having  been  telegraphed 
for  on  account  of  the  serious  turn  his  condition  took  on  Sunday. 
The  arrangements  have  not  yet  been  made  for  his  funeral,  but 
his  body  will  doubtless  be  brought  to  this  city. 

Mr.  Seligman,  who  died  in  California  yesterday,  was  one  of  the 
leading  bankers  not  only  of  this  city  and  this  country,  but  of  the 


128  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

world.  Like  so  many  other  men  who  have  achieved  wealth  and 
fame  in  the  United  States,  he  began  life  as  a  poor  boy,  and  was 
emphatically  a  self-made  man.  He  had  a  genius  for  business,  and 
had  with  his  brothers  achieved  success  in  trade  before  the  Civil 
War  opened  a  wider  opportunity  before  him,  and  enabled  him  to 
become  an  important  factor  in  placing  our  bonds  abroad  and 
establishing  the  credit  of  the  United  States  upon  a  firm  and  endur- 
ing basis.  But  Mr.  Seligman  did  not  permit  his  great  banking- 
house  to  absorb  his  activities.  He  contributed  freely,  though 
unostentatiously,  to  numerous  charitable  works,  and  was  an 
earnest  and  liberal  member  of  the  Republican  party.  His  death 
makes  a  large  vacancy  in  many  circles  in  this  city. 

The  Sun,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker  and  head  of  the  firm  of 
J.  &  W.  Seligman  &  Co.,  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado  this 
morning.  Mr.  Seligman  had  been  a  sufferer  from  Bright's  dis- 
ease, and  his  condition  became  so  serious  two  weeks  ago  that  his 
family  decided  upon  the  trip  accross  the  continent.  He  was 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  daughter.  Mr.  Seligman  did  not 
improve  the  first  two  days  out  from  New  York,  and  on  last  Tues- 
day, when  Topeka  was  reached,  it  was  deemed  best  by  the 
attending  physician  to  side-track  his  private  car  and  give  the 
patient  absolute  rest.  After  a  stop  of  one  day,  the  journey  was 
taken  up,  the  patient  being  apparently  refreshed  by  the  rest. 

The  improvement  did  not  continue,  however,  and  as  he  neared 
the  coast  his  condition  was  causing  his  family  considerable  alarm. 
He  had  contracted  pneumonia  on  the  way.  Mr.  Seligman  was 
very  infirm  when  the  Hotel  del  Coronado  was  reached,  but  his 
condition  was  not  ^considered  dangerous  until  yesterday.  It  was 
seen  that  the  crisis  was  imminent. 

Mr.  Seligman  grew  worse  during  the  night,  and  expired  shortly 
after  9.30  this  morning.  He  retained  consciousness  until  the  last. 
The  body  was  embalmed  to-day  and  will  be  held  to  await  the 
arrival  of  Mr.  Seligman's  three  .sons,  who  started  from  the  East 
this  morning  by  a  special  train  for  San  Diego. 

The  Seligmans  have  continued  to  deal  in  Government  securities 
since  the  civil  \\ar,  and  under  Republican  administrations,  which 
meaus  all  but  a  few  years  of  the  interval,  have  been  the  recog- 
nized Government  bankers  abroad.  As  this  implies,  Jesse  Seligman 
was  a  Republican,  and  his  rcsigi.ation  from  the  Union  League 
Club  a  year  ago,  with  the  reason  for  it,  was  the  occasion  of  political 
as  well  as  social  gossip.  He  had  been  a  member  for  twenty  years, 
having  served  as  a  Vice-President   for  fourteen  years,   when    his 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  1 29 

son,  Theodore  Seligmaii,  was  nominated  for  membership.  Theo- 
dore was  blackballed  solely  because  he  was  a  Hebrew,  at  a  meet- 
ing held  on  April  13th  of  last  year.  Jesse  Seligman  at  once 
resigned  as  a  member  of  the  club,  but  his  resignation  has  not  yet 
been  acted  upon,  so  that  he  was  still  technically  a  member. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  renowned  for  his  benevolence.  He  had 
been  President  for  twenty  years  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum, 
which  opened  with  fourteen  inmates  and  now  contains  600,  and 
he  contributed  largely  to  its  support.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
New  York  Association  for  improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor, 
of  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  and  of  the  Museum  of  Natu 
ral  History.     He  lived  at  2  East  Forty-sixth  street. 

His  personal  wealth  is  estimated  at  $10,000,000.  That  of  the 
combined  banking  houses  is  probably  half  a  dozen  times  as  large. 
The  American  house  has  dealt  during  the  last  few  years  with 
railways  on  a  scale  which  only  a  large  capital  could  command. 

Mr.  Seligman  left  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  sons 
are  Theodore,  a  lawyer ;  Henry,  who  is  associated  in  the  Broad 
street  house,  and  Albert,  who  is  engaged  in  mining  in  Montana. 
One  of  the  daughters  is  Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman.  The  other  two 
are  unmarried. 


New  York  Staats  Zeitung,  April  24,  i8g4. 

etne  2)epejc^e  au8  Soronabo,  Sot.,  wclc^c  bie  2lffociirte '!)3reffe  er^telt, 
tnelbetc  geftern  ben  tm  §otet  bel  Soronabo  an  ?ungenent;5unbung  unb 
iBrigl^t'fc^er  9iieren!tanfl)eit  erfolgten  Sob  Seffe  ©eltgman'g,  be«  S^efa 
ber  i^teftgen  S8anft)aufe8  3.  &  2B.  ©eligman  &  do. 

S)ie  yia6)X\6)i  font  niti^t  iibecrald^enb,  ba  §err  ©eligmon  felt  einigen 
SBod^en  fd)onIeibenb  trar.  (Sr  batte  juerft  in  S?atewoob,  'iR.  3.,  ^eilung 
gejucl)t.  unb  mar  bann  auf  ?lnratl)en  ber  5lerjte  nad^  ©ub^Salifornia 
gcreift,  moljin  tljn  feine  ©atttn  anb  jtoei  jctner  Softer  begleitcten.  5luf 
ber  Sleije  f(!^on  »erjd)Unimerte  jtd)  ber  ^uftanb  beS  §errn  ©eligman  unb 
er  mugte  in  Sopela,  ifanf.,  feinen  ^rt»attt)aggon  abpngen  unb  auf  ein 
©eitengeleije  jcfjieben  laffen,  fonnte  aber  am  ndc^ften  Sage  bie  9fetjc 
ttjiebcr  fortfe^eu. 

iBei  ber  Slnfunft  in  Soronabo  am  le^ten  j^reitag  jebod)  erfonnten  bie 
^ergte,  ba^  eine  9{ettung  nic^t  meljr  mogtid^  |et,  unb  bie  Ijier  gebliebenen 
igo^ne  ttjurben  benad)rici)tigt.  ©iefelben  teiften  am  ©onntag  9Jiorgen 
Bon  bier  ab,  nierben  nun  aber  nur  nod)  bie  Seid^e  beS  geliebten  SSaterS 
ontreffen.  S)ie|elbe  ttJtrb  felbpoerftcinbUd^  gut  SSeerbtgung  ^ierber  gebrac^t 
toerbcn,  bo(^  fmb  bie  'Jlrrangementg  biergn  noc^  nl^t  getroffen.  S)a8 
©efd^dft,  beffen  S^ef  3effe  ©eligmau  roar,  bletbt  biS  nad^  ber  53eerbigung 
gefc^Ioffen,  jo  meit  bie8  bei  einem  S3anfl^aufe  Bon  ber  2lu8bel)nung  moglid^ 
ijt,  b.  ^.  e8  werben  nur  bie  unbebingt  nbt^igen  Oejd^afte  erlebigt  ttierben 


130  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

2)cr  werflovbenc  (Stjef  beS  .f;aif"l?aufc8  3.  &  93?.  Setiflttian  &  So.  wax 
"in  self-made  man  imbeften  Siiine  beS  SSorte?,  iDornnter  roir  nid)t 
liloS  Die  er^iclten  materiellcu  Grfol^e,  foiibecu  nameutUdi  and)  baS  t)pr= 
|"tel)fii,  baJ3  er  itntev  fdjiBieiiflcu  i^erbaltuiffcii,  niit  bincn  er  anfdiiflUd)  ^a 
fdmpfcn  bottc,  jcitifit  ilUffen^bratifl  ^u  bft'rtfbiflen  trufete  unb  bie  ni3tl)ifle 
Snerflic  entroirfeltc,  fic^  ctnen  l)ol)en  ©rob  won  '.yilbunt;  nii^ucigiien.  3cffc 
-gclifliiiau'S  sycbcutimg  im  bffentlid)cii  Vebcn  bcflanb  bavin,  baft  cr  jeit 
^u^brud)  be8  iyiivfleifiiejite  bcr  !i)ertrQUciiciinaiui  ifpublitaniidier 'JIbmim» 
ftratioueu  luar,  oon  beneit  feine  ?vi"fl"i?niift'^fflfl  ^o^  SBtditigfeit  in 
"Mrflriff  flenommcn  rcurbe.  ol)ne  bafe  fein  jRatt)  ^iinor  einqeboU  roorben 
roar.  Slud)  Jrar  er  ber  (Srftc,  ircldicr  nnicrifauifd)?  5^onb«  auf  bem  fitro- 
Odtfdjen  2Ji'artte  placate.  ^Jaturflemafj  wiirbe  burd)  jene  S3c5ict)uncien 
.'derr  ©clignian  aud&  ju  einem  poUtifd)en  (fatter,  ot)ne  jebod)  ieVbft  jemats 
ai  attitieu  poIiti|d)eu  2)ienft  flctreten  j^u  jein.  j^ur  poUtiid)^  9iefotm- 
beftrebunflen  ;;eipte  er  ^yctftaubniB  unb  3ntercffe,  bebarrte  jebod) ^«aif  bem 
Stonbtiiintt,  bofe  btefelben  innerf)alb  ber  repnbtitantfd)en  'i^artet  QUSge' 
fii^rt  wccbfn  fonnten  unb  miigten.  "Siefe  "ipartei  oerliert  mit  ibm  ein 
J^odianflcfcbeneS  ::0'Jitglieb  unb  einc  ttjert^ooUe  ©tiitje. 

The  New  Yukk  Times,  April  24,  i8q4. 

A  telegram  came  from  Mr.  Seligman  Saturday  to  his  children 
in  this  city,  saying  he  was  dangerously  ill.  His  sons,  Theodore 
and  Henry,  and  his  daughters,  Alice  and  Madeline,  started  for 
California  that  evening,  reaching  Chicago  Sunday,  and  leaving 
that  city  for  California  in  a  special  car  over  the  Atchison  Road 
yesterday  morning. 

At  about  5  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon  a  telegram  from  Mr. 
Steinhart,  a  relative  of  the  family,  conveyed  to  the  employees  of 
Mr.  Seligman's  firm,  the  first  news  they  had  that  he  was  dead. 

It  was  not  known  at  the  offices  yesterday  what  arrangements 
would  be  made  for  the  funeral.  All  the  details  would  be  left  to 
Mr.  Steinhart,  it  was  said.  The  offices  of  Mr.  Seligman's  firm 
will  be  closed  to-day. 

Jesse  Seligman  came  to  this  country  in  the  steerage  of  a  sailing 
vessel,  landing  at  Castle  Garden  on  July  6,  1S40. 

That  Mr.  Seligman  was  enabled  to  come  to  this  country  at  all, 
even  in  the  steerage,  was  only  made  possible  through  the  liber- 
ality and  affection  of  his  brother  Joseph,  the  pioneer  of  the  family 
in  this  country,  and  formerly  the  head  of  the  great  banking  house 
■of  which  Jesse,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  chief. 

Joseph  had  come  to  the  United  States  from  the  family  home 
in  Bayersdorf,  Bavaria,  in  1837.  He  left  behind  seven  brothers. 
At  the  time  of  his  brother  Joseph's  departure  from  the  old  country, 
Jesse  was  a  student  at  the  Gymnasium,  preparing  to  enter  the 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  131 

University  at  Erlanger,  from  which  Joseph  had  been  graduated 
just  before  he  came  to  America. 

He  concluded  to  bring  over  Jesse  at  once.  The  latter  was 
born  in  1825,  and  at  the  time  of  his  arrival  here  he  was  fifteen 
years  old.  After  a  short  stay  in  New  York  Jesse  started  for  Lan- 
caster, where  he  remained  long  enough  to  pick  up  a  smattering 
of  English  and  the  art  of  making  penny  cigars. 

Jesse  Seligman  soon  became  a  well-known  figure  in  the  social 
and  political,  as  well  as  the  business  life  of  New  York.  He  was 
a  most  consistent  Republican,  and  he  was  suggested  a  few  years 
ago  as  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  Mayor  of  this  city.  He  was 
a  Vice  President  of  the  Union  League  Club  and  a  member  of  a 
number  of  the  prominent  clubs.  He  was  also  actively  connected 
with  the  charitable  organizations  of  the  city. 

With  his  wife  and  family,  Mr.  Seligman  lived  in  a  fine  house  at 
2  East  F'orty-sixth  Street,  next  door  to  the  Windsor  Hotel.  His 
Summer  home  was  for  years  at  Long  Branch,  where  he  was  a 
neighbor  of  Gen.  Grant,  while  the  latter  made  the  New  Jersey 
resort  his  headquarters  during  the  warm  seasons. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  fortune  was  estimated  at  between  $20,000,000 
and  $30,000,000.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Hebrew  congregation 
of  the  Temple  Emanu-El.  His  family  consists,  besides  his  wife, 
of  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Up  to  the  time  of  his  departure  for  the  West,  Mr.  Seligman 
rarely  missed  a  day  at  his  office  in  the  Mills  Building,  on  Broad 
Street,  where  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  has  made  its  quarters 
ever  since  the  building  was  completed. 

The  New  York  Recorder,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  millionaire,  banker  and  philanthropist,  was 
born  in  Baiesdorf,  a  small  town  of  Bavaria,  in  1825.  His  father 
was  a  man  of  moderate  means,  but  managed  to  afford  a  good 
education  to  each  of  his  eight  sons,  of  whom  Jesse  was  the  fourth. 

The  future  millionaire  began  business  as  a  peddler.  For  three 
years  he  had  very  little  success,  but,  being  industrious  and  frugal, 
he  got  ahead  step  by  step.  In  1844  he  found  himself  proprietor 
of  a  small  shop,  and  the  four  years  next  succeeding  were  prosper- 
ous ones,  so  that  when  the  California  gold  fever  swept  the  country 
in  1849  he  was  quite  a  capitalist.  Quick  to  turn  the  craze  to  his 
own  advantage,  the  young  merchant  put  his  capital  into  a  stock 
of  ready-made  clothing,  hastened  to  San  Francisco,  leased  the 
only  brick  store  in  the  town  and  opened  a  rushing  business.  The 
air  around  him  was  full  of  feverish  stories  of  huge  fortunes  won 
in  a  day  by  lucky  speculation,  but  a  legitimate  trade  that  yielded 


132  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

enormous  j^rotits  held  him  safe  from  the  temptation  to  dabble  in 
mining  ventures.  He  was  rich  and  growing  richer  when  the  gold 
fever  began  to  die  away  in  1S57,  but  decided  to  forsake  California 
for  the  East,  with  its  greater  opportunities. 

He  joined  his  brothers,  James  and  Joseph,  who  had  established 
a  wholesale  clothing  business  in  this  city.  When  the  war  broke 
out,  in  i86i,  the  firm  suffered  some  losses  through  the  interruption 
of  trade  relations  with  the  South,  but  was  not  crippled,  and  soon 
became  interested  in  lucrative  Government  contracts.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  the  brothers  decided  to  become  bankers.  The 
success  that  had  attended  them  in  trade  was  constant  to  them  in 
their  new  enterprise,  and  the  house  of  Seligman  was  soon  known 
all  over  the  civilized  world.  Branches  were  established  in  Lon- 
don. Paris,  Amsterdam,  Frankfort,  New  Orleans  and  San  Fran- 
cisco, and  one  after  the  other  all  of  Jesse's  four  younger  brothers 
were  taken  into  the  firm. 

Seligman  Brothers  were  always  steadfast  believers  in  the  des- 
tiny of  the  Great  Republic  and  ready  to  aid  the  Government  with 
their  credit  at  times  when  other  bankers  held  back.  Their  faith 
profited  them  handsomely. 

Jesse  Seligman  adopted  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party 
in  the  days  of  Fremont,  and  was  uniformly  true  to  them.  He 
never  held  public  oftice,  but  was  one  of  those  to  whom  friends  of 
good  government  naturally  turned  at  times  when  a  man  had  to 
be  chosen  to  lead  a  fight  against  corruption.  On  several  occasion^ 
he  could  have  had  the  Republican  nomination  for  the  Mayoralty 
of  New  York  if  he  had  signified  his  willingness  to  accept  it.  The 
wide  popularity  won  for  him  by  a  life  of  integrity  and  benevolence 
would  have  made  him  a  powerful  candidate. 

Mr,  Seligman  was  a  Jew  by  birth  and  proud  of  the  fact.  Mr. 
Seligman  had  been  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club  almost 
since  its  inception  and  believed  in  it.  He  wanted  his  son  elected 
to  membership,  too,  and  directed  his  influence  to  that  end,  but 
the  young  man  was  blackballed.  Convinced  that  religious  preju- 
dice was  responsible  for  this  result,  Mr.  Seligman  indignantly 
resigned.  In  justice  to  the  Union  League  Club  it  should  be  said 
that  many  of  its  most  honored  members  have  stoutly  maintained 
that  bigotry  had  nothing  whatever  to  do  with  the  rejection  of 
young  Mr.  Seligman's  name. 

Mr.  Seligman  leaves  a  widow,  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 
His  New  York  home  was  at  2  East  Forty-sixth  street. 

In  the  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  the  country  loses  one  of  its 
very  best  citizens,  and  the  Republican  party  a  sincere,  earnest  and 
patriotic  member.  He  was  a  man  of  the  very  highest  character  in 
every  relation  of  life  as  citizen,  friend,  patriot  and  philanthropist. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  1 33 

Jesse  Seligman  is  dead. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  a  very  rich  banker,  not  a  soldier.  He  was 
born  in  the  Old  World,  not  in  America.  But  he  served  his  adopted 
country  as  truly  as  any  soldier,  and  as  effectively  as  any  general . 
In  1862  and  1863,  when  the  Government  needed  money  very  badly 
to  carry  on  the  war,  Mr.  Seligman  was  one  of  the  patriotic  bankers 
who  helped  to  make  the  loan  a  success. 

Mr.  Seligman  had  lived  in  many  places  before  coming  to  New 
York. 

He  was  born  in  Bavaria.  When  he  came  to  America  as  a  boy 
he  lived  in  the  South,  then  moved  to  Watertown,  where  that  other 
very  rich  New  Yorker,  Roswell  P.  Flower,  also  lived  at  about  the 
same  time.  Then  he  went  to  California  with  the  gold  seekers  and 
there  made  his  fortune  as  a  merchant.  While  he  was  in  San 
Francisco  he  helped  to  form  the  Citizens'  Committee,  which  put 
down  the  toughs  and  made  the  city  decent.  That,  like  the  war 
loan,  showed  pluck  and  good  citizenship. 

Folks  who  talk  about  the  ' '  money  sharks  of  Wall  street "  ought 
to  think  of  the  good  a  rich  man  can  do  when  he  is  both  plucky 
and  patriotic. 

April  JO,   i8g4- 

The  Seligmans  apparently  own  a  good  deal  more  real  estate 
than  the  public  at  large  is  aware  of.  That  the  Wormsers  own 
considerable  property  every  one  in  the  market  knows,  for  they 
are  regular  buyers  at  leading  sales,  and  own  a  vast  number  of 
lots,  especially  along  the  Boulevard.  No  one  recollects,  however, 
ever  having  seen  any  of  the  Seligman  brothers  on  the  Real  Estate 
exchanges. 

Yet  last  week,  within  a  few  days  after  the  death  of  Jesse  Selig- 
man in  California,  the  estate  of  Joseph  Seligman,  who  died  some 
years  ago  at  Long  Branch,  sold  at  private  contract  no  less  than 
fifteen  vacant  lots  all  well  located  in  the  upper  section  of  the  city. 
Thirteen  of  these  lots  are  in  loist  street,  just  East  of  Madison 
avenue.  They  were  purchased  by  the  Hoffman  estate.  Two  other 
lots  were  in  144th  street,  east  of  Eighth  avenue.  These  were  sold 
to  the  Brandreth  Pill  Company.  It  is  rumored  in  the  real  estate 
market  that  the  brothers,  outside  of  their  banking  business,  hold 
nothing  in  common ;  that  each  of  them  has  had  for  several  years 
separate  holdings,  and  that  the  estate  of  the  one  who  has  just  died 
in  California  will  also  prove  to  consist  of  a  good  deal  of  realty. 

May  /,  i8g4. 
The   special  train  bearing  the  body  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the 
banker,  who  died  at  San  Diego,  California,  on  April  25,  arrived 


134  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

at  the  Grand  Central  Depot  at  7.20  last  evening.  Accompanying 
the  body  were  the  dead  man's  widow  and  his  two  daughters,  the 
Misses  Alice  and  Madeline.  Many  friends  met  the  train,  among 
them  being  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and 
Orphan  Society,  of  which  Mr.  Seligman  was  President. 

Mrs.  Seligman  and  her  daughters  drove  to  their  home  at  2  East 
Forty-sixth  street.  It  was  at  first  intended  to  take  the  body  to 
the  Temple  Emanu-El,  at  Fifth  avenue  and  Forty-fourth  street, 
but  for  some  reason  a  change  was  made  and  it  was  determined  to 
have  it  go  directly  to  an  undertaker's.  After  half  an  hour's  delay, 
however,  the  original  idea  was  carried  out,  and  the  body  was 
escorted  to  the  temple  by  the  trustees  of  the  Orphan  Asylum. 
Upon  its  arrival  there  a  plaster  cast  of  the  dead  banker's  head 
was  taken  by  Sculptor  Ezekiel,  and  from  this  he  will  make  a 
statue  to  be  erected  in  the  grounds  of  the  Hebrew  Benevolent 
and  Orphan  Society.  Later  the  body  was  removed  to  the  Forty- 
sixth  street  residence.  The  funeral  will  be  held  at  the  Temple 
Emanu-El  to-morrow  morning  at  10  o'clock. 


The  Press,  April  24,  i8g4. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  occurred 
yesterday  a  little  after  nine  o'clock.  The  end  came  peacefully, 
and  consciousness  was  retained  to  the  last. 

Mr.  Seligman  came  to  Coronado  last  Friday,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  two  daughters.  He  had  been  conscious  for  some 
time  that  he  was  then  in  a  critical  condition,  and  be  hoped  the 
quiet  of  this  place  and  the  mild  climate  would  restore  his  health. 
He  expressed  himself  as  hopeful  when  he  came  that  the  change 
would  benefit  him,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  that  his  expectations 
were  well-grounded.  Shortly  afterward,  however,  his  condition 
became  serious,  and  it  was  evident  yesterday  that  a  crisis  was 
imminent.  His  immediate  family  was  notified  to  prepare  for  the 
worst.  He  sank  steadily  during  Suuday  night  and  until  the  end 
came. 

The  body  has  been  taken  to  an  undertaker  on  the  San  Diego 
side  of  the  bay,  where  it  will  be  embalmed  and  retained  until  the 
arrival  of  his  three  sons,  who,  it  is  said,  left  to-day  on  a  special 
train  for  San  Diego.  When  they  arrive,  the  body  will  be  sent  to 
New  York. 

The  local  physicians  who  attended  Mr.  Seligman  say  Bright's 
disease  caused  his  death.  They  declare  further  that  his  ailment 
was  not  properly  diagnosed  in  New  York,  and  that  his  treatment 
was  of  no  benefit.  He  was  supposed  to  be  suffering  from  pneu- 
monia when  he  came  here. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  135 

The  new^  -of  Jesse  Seligman's  death  was  heard  on  Wall  Street 
early  yesterday  afternoon,  but  no  confirmation  of  it  was  received 
at  the  offices  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  No.  21  Broad  Street,  until 
nearly  five  o'clock,  when  a  telegram  arrived  from  the  family  at 
the  Hotel  Del  Coronado. 

Mr.  Seligman  had  been  a  conspicuous  figure  on  Wall  Street  for 
.a  long  time.  He  had  been  well  known  and  well  liked  as  a  banker 
and  broker  for  many  years. 

The  Seligmans  are  now  one  of  the  greatest  banking  families  in 
the  world.  Five  of  the  brothers  are  still  living.  Besides  the 
house  in  this  city,  of  which  Jesse  Seligman  was  the  head,  there 
are  the  firms  of  Seligman  Brothers,  of  London,  of  which  Isaac  is 
the  head ;  Seligman  Freres  et  Cie,  of  Paris,  of  which  William  is 
the  head ;  Seligman  &  Stettheimer,  of  Frankfort,  of  which  Henry 
is  the  head.  There  are  branch  houses  in  Berlin,  Amsterdam, 
New  Orleans -and  San  Francisco.  A  member  of  the  Broad  Street 
firm  said  yesterda)'  that  Jesse  Seligman's  wealth  was  $10,000,000. 
The  Seligmans  of  this  city  and  of  Paris  were  the  firms  with  whom 
were  deposited  the  vast  sums  that  were  spent  in  connection  with 
the  Panama  Canal  fizzle.  A  Congressional  committee,  of  which 
John  R.  Fellows  was  chairman,  last  year,  after  the  exposures  in 
France,  examined  Mr.  Seligman,  who  was  one  of  the  American 
committee  to  push  the  propaganda  of  the  Canal  in  this  country, 
but  nothing  sensational  was  developed. 

Jesse  Seligman  has  always  been  an  active  republican  and  a 
member  of  the  Union  League  Club.  Last  year  he  met  with  a 
bitter  experience  in  the  blackballing  of  his  son  Theodore  by  the 
younger  element  in  the  club.  The  elder  Seligman  said  that 
religion  and  race  alone  prevented  the  young  man  from  being 
admitted,  and  accordingly  the  father  resigned.  Mr.  Seligman 
was  a  very  charitable  man,  and  gave  largely  to  eleemosynary 
purposes.  He  leaves  a  wife  and  six  children,  three  sons — Henry, 
a  lawyer;  Albert,  a  miner  at  Helena,  Mont.,  and  Theodore,  a 
banker — and  three  daughters — Mrs.  Emma  Wassermann  and  the 
Misses  Alice  and  Madeline.  Mr.  Seligman  had  been  affected  for 
some  time  with  heart  trouble.  He  started  West  a  week  ago  last 
Thursday.  On  Saturday  the  sons  were  telegraphed  for  on  the 
ground  that  their  father-  was  suffering  from  pneumonia.  Henry 
and  Theodore  started  at  once  for  California,  where  Mrs.  Seligman 
and  the  two  unmarried  daughters  are. 

Mr.  Seligman  took  great  pride  in  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum, 
which  shelters  600  little  ones.  Every  Sunday  Mr.  Seligman  made 
it  a  point  to  visit  the  institution.  He  was  its  president,  and  had 
been  for  twenty  years  back.  Mr.  Seligman  was  also  a  director  in 
the  New  York  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the 


136  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

poor,  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  and  the  Museum  of  Natu- 
ral History. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  head  of  the  well-known  house  of 
J.  &  W.  Seligman  &  Co.,  is  a  serious  loss  to  the  business  interests 
of  New  York,  as  well  as  to  the  charitable  undertakings  in  which 
Mr.  Seligman  was  honorably  active.  Mr.  Seligman  was  a  repre- 
sentative Hebrew  in  the  best  sense  of  the  term,  and  his  life  was  a 
creditable  illustration  of  what  may  be  achieved  in  our  American 
Republic  by  energy,  industry  and  thrift.  Fortunate  in  the  accu- 
mulation of  wealth,  Mr.  Seligman  used  a  large  share  of  his  means 
for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-men,  and  was  bounded  by  no  narrow 
line  of  race  or  religion  in  the  distribution  of  his  charities.  His 
careful  and  successful  devotion  to  business  did  not  prevent  him 
from  giving  generous  attention  to  the  development  of  education 
and  art  in  the  interest  of  the  people.  Mr.  Seligman  was  a  sincere 
republican  and  an  earnest  believer  in  the  principles  of  that  party, 
which  has  stood,  from  its  origin,  for  the  rights  of  all  mankind. 


April  2_5,  i8g4.  * 

The  arrangements  for  the  funeral  of  Banker  Jesse  Seligman 
have  not  yet  been  completed.  The  body  has  been  embalmed,  and 
will  be  brought  to  this  city. 


May  J,  i8g4. 

Two  thousand  people  attended  the  funeral  services  of  the  late 
Jesse  Seligman,  the  well-known  banker,  yesterday  morning,  at 
Temple  Emanu-El.  An  equal  number  were  unable  to  obtain 
admission.  One  hundred  and  fifty  boys  and  girls  were  present 
from  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  Mr.  .Seligman  was 
president.     They  were  ranged  at  the  rear  of  the  chancel. 

In  the  front  row  of  seats,  directly  facing  Dr.  Silverman,  sat 
Mrs.  Jesse  Seligman,  James  Seligman,  a  brother  of  the  dead  man  , 
the  sons,  Theodore  and  Henry  Seligman ;  Mrs.  Wasserman,  Miss 
Madeline  and  Miss  Alice  Seligman,  daughters;  Mrs.  Theodore 
Hellman,  a  niece,  and  Miss  Florence  Seligman,  a  daughter  of 
James  Seligman. 

The  music  was  rendered  by  a  quartet.  Rev.  Dr.  Silverman 
delivered  the  eulogy,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil  also  spoke. 
There  was  a  song  service  at  the  conclusion  of  the  addresses.  The 
interment  was  in  Salem  Field  Cemetery,  at  Cypress  Hills. 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  1 37 


New  York  Herald,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Mr.  Seligman  had  been  a  sufferer  from  Bright' s  disease  for 
some  time,  although  the  physicians  here  say  the  trouble  was 
diagnosed  differently  in  New  York.  His  condition  became  so 
serious  two  weeks  ago  that  his  family  decided  upon  the  trip  across 
the  continent,  hoping  to  baffle  the  disease. 

Mr.  Seligman  did  not  improve  the  first  two  days  out  from  New 
York,  and  when  Topeka,  Kan.,  was  reached  last  Tuesday,  it  was 
deemed  best  by  the  attending  physician  to  sidetrack  his  private 
car  for  a  time,  and  give  the  patient  absolute  rest.  After  a  stop 
of  one  day,  the  journey  was  taken  up,  the  patient  being  apparently 
refreshed  by  the  rest. 

The  improvement  did  not  continue,  and  as  he  neared  the  coast 
his  condition  was  causing  his  family  considerable  alarm.  He  had 
contracted  pneumonia  en  route,  and  this,  in  addition  to  his  other 
serious  trouble,  made  it  apparent  to  those  near  him  that  his 
recovery  was  extremely  doubtful. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  very  infirm  when  the  hotel  was  reached,  but 
his  condition  was  not  considered  dangerous  until  yesterday,  when 
the  doctor  stated  that  the  next  twenty-four  hours  would  determine 
the  matter  of  life  or  death. 

Mr.   Seligman' s  wife   and  daughters   summoned  by  telegraph 
all  the  members  of  the  family.     The  patient  g^ew  worse  during 
the  night,  and  died  about  half-past  nine  o'clock   this  morning 
He  retained  consciousness  until  the  last. 

The  body  was  embalmed  to-day,  and  will  be  held  to  await  the 
arrival  of  Mr.  Seligman' s  three  sons,  who  started  from  the  East 
this  morning  by  a  special  train  for  San  Diego.  Upon  their  arrival 
the  family  will  accompany  the  body  to  New  York. 

It  had  been  the  intention  of  the  family  to  remain  at  Coronado 
Beach  for  at  least  a  month  in  perfect  quiet,  until  the  weather 
further  north  was  suitably  warm,  then  to  proceed  to  Santa  Bar- 
bara, and  then  to  Monterey,  working  their  way  up  the  coast  to 
San  Rafael,  where  they  expected  to  arrive  in  June.  Quarters  had 
"r^--^         been  engaged  there  for  the  party  until  September  or  October. 

C.  P.   Huntington,  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  and  Mr. 
Wade,  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  road,  have  offered  special  cars 
and  every  courtesy-  for  the  removal  of  the  body  and  the  familyi 
and  friends  to  New  York. 

Joseph,  the  head  of  the  firm,  died  in  1S81,  and  Jesse  succeeded 
him.  Jesse,  although  liberal  in  his  views,  remained  true  to  the 
faith  of  his  fathers.  He  became  the  personal  friend  of  President 
Grant  and  his  associates  as  well  as  their  banker.  He  built  a  cot- 
tage at  Long  Branch  adjoining  Grant's.     Under  his  direction  the 


138  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Seligman  firm  became  promoters  of  railroads  to  San  Francisco 
and  to  Mexico,  and  took  charge  of  the  De  Lesseps  scheme  for  a 
Panama  canal.     Jesse  joined  the  Union  League  Club, 

Mr.  Seligman  announced  in  1S82,  that  he  had  amassed  enough 
money  and  would  retire  from  business,  but  the  affairs  of  his  firm 
were  so  complicated  and  far  reaching  that  he  found  it  impossible 
to  carry  out  his  intention.  The  thousand  ties  that  bind  a  rich 
man  to  his  business  held  him  to  his  bank. 

Mr.  Seligman  leaves  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Grand- 
children greeted  him  when  he  came  home  from  his  business  in 
Wall  street  and  no  music  was  sweeter  in  his  ears  than  their 
laughter. 

Mr.  Seligman's  many  acts  of  charity  were  not  limited  by  his 
race  or  religion.  He  was  for  many  years  president  of  the  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum  Society  of  New  York,  of  which  he  was  the 
principal  founder.  When  the  Refugee  Fund  for  the  relief  of  his 
unfortunate  countrymen  was  started  he  was  the  first  to  subscribe, 
and  he  gave  time  and  money  to  many  other  benevolent  enterprises. 

Mr.  Seligman  belonged  to  a  family  of  bankers.  The  Paris  house 
was  founded  and  managed  by  William  Seligman.  In  that  city 
the  Seligmans  were  the  agents  for  the  Panama  Canal  Company. 
Messrs.  Isaac  and  Leopold  Seligman  founded  the  London  house 
and  acted  as  agents  of  the  Rothschilds  and  of  the  British  Naval 
Department.  The  Frankfort  branch  was  founded  by  Messrs. 
Ilenry  and  Abraham  Seligman,  and  negotiated  the  greater  portion 
of  the  German  loans  and  was  the  first  to  place  American  bonds 
abroad.  The  New  York  house  was  composed  of  Jesse,  James, 
Isaac  N.,  David  and  Samuel.  Abraham  Seligman,  of  the  Frank- 
fort house,  also  founded  the  San  Francisco  branch  of  the  firm  and 
established  the  Anglo-Calif  or  iiian  Bank  in  that  city. 

Mr.  Seligman  had  been  in  poor  health  for  several  months,  but 
when  he  set  out  for  a  two  months'  sojourn  in  Southern  California 
a  week  ago  last  Wednesday  it  was  generally  supposed  he  was 
suffering  from  nothing  worse  than  overwork.  Mrs.  Seligman  and 
two  daughters,  Miss  Madeline  Seligman  and  Mrs.  Edward  Wasser- 
man,  accompanied  him. 

The  Herald  told  last  week  of  the  side-tracking  of  the  banker's 
private  car  at  Topeka,  Kan.,  on  account  of  his  illness,  but  subse- 
quent news  was  reassuring  and  there  was  no  expectation  of  his 
sudden  death. 

A  despatch  from  the  Hotel  Del  Coronado  on  Saturday  night 
brought  news  to  this  city  of  a  change  for  the  worse,  and  Theodore 
and  Henry  Seligman,  his  sons,  left  Sunday  night  for  California. 
Henry,  the  third  son,  is  in  business  in  Helena,  Mon.,  and  another 
daughter,  Miss  Alice  Seligman,  is  in  this  city. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  1 39 

The  news  of  his  death  was  received  at  five  o'clock  yesterday 
afternoon  at  the  office  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  V/.  Seligman  in  the  Mill? 
Building.     The  banking  house  will  be  closed  to-day. 

There  was  universal  regret  in  Wall  street  and  vicinity  when 
the  news  came,  and  kind  words  for  the  dead  banker  were  on  many 
lips. 

May  J,  /8g4. 

It  was  a  large  and  reverent  crowd  that  assembled  at  the  Temple 
Emanu-El,  Fortj'-third  street  and  Fifth  avenue,  yesterday  morn- 
ing to  attend  the  public  funeral  services  over  the  body  of  Jesse 
Seligman.  Fully  two  thousand  persons  were  present,  many  of 
whom  failed  to  get  admission  to  the  temple,  which  was  crowded 
to  the  doors.  All  creeds  and  nationalities  were  represented  in  the 
ranks  of  those  who  gathered  together  to  honor  the  memory  of  the 
philanthropist. 

The  coffin  was  borne  into  the  temple  promptly  at  ten  o'clock, 
followed  by  the  pallbearers,  and  deposited  in  front  of  the  altar  in 
the  midst  of  the  magnificent  floral  offerings,  whose  perfimie  per- 
vaded in  the  entire  building.  The  coffin  itself  was  massed  iB 
violets,  ivy  and  maidenhair  ferns. 

The  platform  in  front  of  the  Ark  was  occupied  by  more  than 
one  hundred  children— boys  and  girls  from  the  Hebrew  Bene- 
volent and  Orphan  Asylum. 

In  the  front  and  neighboring  pews  were  the  chief  mourners, 
among  whom  were  Mrs.  Seligman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Wasser- 
man.  Misses  Alice  and  Madeline  Seligman,  Professor  E.  R.  A. 
Seligman,  I.  N.  Seligman,  De  Witt  J.  Seligman  and  others. 

Others  present  in  the  Temple  were  Bishop  Potter,  President 
Jonas  Weil  and  Vice-President  A.  Peabody,  of  the  Lebanon 
Hospital;  Drs.  Wilde  and  Lord  and  Messrs.  Schalk  and  Kellar, 
of  the  same  institution,  and  President  ^Mechen,  of  the  Mechanics' 
and  Traders'  Bank. 

Among  the  institutions  represented  were  the  Montefiore  Home 
for  Chronic  Invalids,  the  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Hebrews,  the 
Hebrew  Technical  Institute,  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  the 
Independent  Order  of  B'ne  B'rith,  the  Sanitarium  for  Hebrew 
Children,  and  the  Local  Board  of  Jewish  Ministers.  There  were 
also  a  large  delegation  from  the  Union  League  Club. 

The  pallbearers  were  Seth  Low,  Cornelius  N.  Bliss,  Henr^-  Rice, 
John  A.  Stewart,  Oscar  S.  Straus,  General  Horace  Porter,  Lev/is 
May,  ex-Mayor  Abram  S.  Hevdtt,  Mayor  Thomas  F.  Gilroy, 
Emanuel  Lehman,  Thomas  Dolan,  Louis  Gans,  John  Wanamaker, 
Carl  Schurz,  Charles  S.  Bemheim,  John  J.  McCook,  Abraham 
Wolff,   D.  Willis  James,   A.  D.  Juillard,   Edwin  Einstein,   Colonel 


I40  -JESSE  SELIGMAN 

William  L.  Strong,  William  Walter  Phelps,  Hymau  Blum,  Myer 
Stem,  General  Benjamin  F.  Tracy,  William  M.  Evarts,  Edward 
Lauterbach,  James  McCreeiy,  Myer  S.  Isaacs,  John  Crosby  Brown, 
Dr.  H.  Baar,  Julius  Goldman,  A.  S.  Solomons,  James  H.  Hoffman, 
J.  Hood  Wright,  Charles  Cramp,  Colonel  F.  D.  Grant  and  Judge 
John  J.  Dillon. 

After  the  holy  blessings  had  been  pronounced  the  coffin  was 
borne  from  the  Temple  to  the  hearse,  followed  bj'  the  pallbearers 
and  the  mourners.  A  long  line  of  carriages  followed  the  hearse  to 
CjTJress  Hills,  L.  I. ,  where  the  interment  took  place. 

The  Morning  Journal,  April  24,  i8g4. 

The  news  of  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  banker,  reached 
Wall  Street  about  two  o'clock  yesterday  afternoon.  It  could  not 
be  confirmed  at  the  office  of  the  dead  banker,  in  the  Mills  build- 
ing. His  partners  declared  as  late  as  4  o'clock  P.  M.  that  they 
had  received  no  notice  of  his  death. 

Mr.  Seligman  left  for  the  West  a  week  ago  last  Thursday.  He 
had  been  in  very  poor  health  for  several  weeks,  and  thought  that 
the  balmy  air  of  California  would  restort  him  to  health. 

His  condition  became  more  serious  from  the  day  he  left.  When 
he  got  as  far  as  Topeka,  Kan. ,  he  was  obliged  to  discontinue  his 
journey  for  a  few  days. 

Mr.  Seligman  finally  reached  California,  and  went  to  the  Hotel 
del  Coronado,  at  Coronado  Beach,  where  he  died  yesterday  morn- 
ing at  nine  o'clock. 

His  condition  on  Saturday  last  was  so  serious  that  his  family 
was  telegraphed  for.  His  sons,  Theodore  and  Henry,  and  two  of 
Mr.  Seligman' s  daughters,  left  for  the  West  on  Saturday  night 
They  arrived  in  Chicago  yesterday,  and  took  a  special  Atchison 
train  for  California.  His  wife  and  daughter  were  with  him  when 
he  died. 

MoRNfNG  Advertiser,  April  24,  i8g'4. 

Mr.  Seligman  left  New  York  nearly  two  weeks  ago,  accompa- 
nied by  his  wife  and  his  daughter.  Miss  Alice,  expecting  to  be 
gone  about  six  months.  He  had  been  in  bad  health  for  a  month, 
but  his  condition  was  not  thought  to  be  serious 

He  became  a  member  of  Howard  Fire  Company  No.  3  of  San 
Francisco.  Throughout  the  era  of  lawlessness  he  was  a  prominent 
law  and  order  man — one  of  the  original  Committee  of  Twenty-one, 
and  captain  of  company  No.  5  of  the  Vigilants.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Committee  of  Forty,  and  his  zeal  in  behalf  of  his  party  in 
local  politics  once  saved  his  life.  He  had  engaged  passage  for 
himself  and  his  family  on  the   ill-fated  ship  Central  America, 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  141 

bound  for  New  York.     Just  before  she   sailed  he  determined  to 
wait  in  San  Francisco  until  after  the  election.     The  ship  was  lost. 

Jesse  Selignian  was  always  identified  most  closely  with  the 
American  business.  The  brothers  did  patriotic  service  during  the 
war  of  the  rebellion,  enabling  the  Government  to  market  its  bonds 
to  advantage  in  Earope.  When  John  Sherman  was  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury,  the  Seligmans  helped  the  Government  place  its 
four-per-cent.  bonds,  and  in  other  great  financial  transactions 
they  were  of  almost  invaluable  benefit.  Under  all  the  republican 
Administrations  since  the  war,  they  have  been  fiscal  agents  of  the 
Government  in  Europe.  Only  two  of  the  brothers,  Joseph  and 
Abraham,  died  before  Jesse. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  an  ardent  republican.  His  first  political 
idol  was  Henry  Clay,  whom  he  saw  at  the  barbecue  in  Eutaw, 
Ala.,  in  1844,  when  Clay  was  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency.  Mr. 
Seligman  was  a  member  and  vice-president  of  the  Union  League 
Club  of  this  city.  The  blackballing  of  his  son  Theodore,  the 
lawyer,  in  April,  1893,  resulted  in  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Seligman. 
The  young  man  had  been  rejected  solely  upon  the  ground  that  he 
was  a  Jew.  The  father  bitterly  resented  this  action,  and  was 
deeply  wounded  by  it,  though  to  any  but  a  most  sensitive  man 
the  humiliation  would  have  been  more  than  compensated  for  by 
the  national  condemnation  of  the  League's  action,  and  the  hun- 
dreds of  public  and  private  expressions  of  sympathy  and  respect 
for  the  father.  Mr.  Seligman  was  always  a  liberal  contributor  to 
the  Republican  campaign  funds,  and  was  frequently  mentioned 
as  a  desirable  candidate  for  the  Mayoralty  and  other  offices.  His 
estate  is  probably  worth  about  $10,000,000.  He  and  his  brothers 
were  interested  largely  in  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific,  the  Texas 
Pacific  and  other  South-western  railroad  properties.  They  con- 
trolled the  St.  Louis  and  San  Francisco  at  one  time,  selling  to  the 
Atchison.  Their  more  recent  investments  have  been  in  Cramp's 
ship-yard  in  Philadelphia,  and  in  the  street  railroads  of  Brooklyn 
and  New  Orleans. 

Mr.  Seligman  devoted  many  thousands  of  dollars  to  charity. 
The  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  136th  Street  and  Tenth  Avenue,  is 
a  monument  to  his  philanthropy.  He  had  been  president  of  it 
since  it  was  started  in  1859,  with  fourteen  children  and  $10,000 
capital.  He  was  always  an  enthusiast  upon  that  subject,  becom- 
ing acquainted  with  the  children  and  assisting  them  in  business. 
Every  Sunday  he  visited  the  Asylum.  He  was  a  director  of  the 
New  York  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor, 
the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  and  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History,  and  was  connected  with  nearly  all  the  Hebrew  charitable 
organizations  of  New  York.  He  was  a  member  of  Temple  Emanu-El. 


142  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

Mr.  Seligman  leaves  a  wife  and  six  children.  The  three  sons 
are  Theodore,  a  lawyer  in  New  York;  Henry,  in  the  bank  of  J.  & 
W.  Seligman  &  Co.,  at  No.  21  Broad  Street,  and  Albert,  interested 
in  mining  and  other  business  at  Helena,  Mont.  The  daughters 
are  Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman,  Miss  Alice  and  Miss  Madeline. 

April  26,  i8g4. 
A  special  train  is  carrying  Theodore  and  Henry  Seligman,  sons 
of  the  dead  banker,  to  Coronado  Beach,  Cal.  They  left  Chicago 
on  Monday  afternoon,  at  2  o'clock,  when  they  heard  of  their 
father's  death.  Since  then  little  had  been  heard  from  them,  and 
their  New  York  friends  are  speculating  as  to  the  time  it  will  take 
the  train  to  cover  the  distance.  At  the  office  of  the  Atchison,  Topeka 
and  Santa  Fe  Railroad,  No.  266  Broadway,  it  was  said  yesterday 
that  it  was  impossible  for  the  special  which  the  Seligmans  are  on 
to  make  the  distance  in  less  than  three  days.  There  are  2,347 
miles  between  Chicago  and  San  Diego,  and  the  quickest  time 
made  by  the  regular  trains  is  three  days  and  a  half. 

Daily  America  and  Mercury,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers,  of 
New  York  and  London,  died  at  the  Hotel  Del  Coronado  this  morn- 
ing. 

Mr.  Seligman  had  been  a  sufferer  from  Bright' s  disease  for  some 
time,  although  the  physicians  here  say  that  the  trouble  was  diag- 
nosed differently  in  New  York. 

His  condition  became  so  serious  two  weeks  ago  that  his  family 
decided  upon  the  trip  across  the  continent,  hoping  to  baffle  the 
disease.  Mr.  Seligman  did  not  improve  the  first  two  days  out 
from  New  York,  and  on  last  Tuesday,  when  Topeka  was  reached, 
it  was  deemed  best  by  the  attending  physician  to  sidetrack  his 
private  car  for  a  time,  and  in  this  manner  give  the  patient  absol- 
ute rest. 

After  a  stop-over  of  one  day,  the  journey  was  taken  up,  the 
patient  being  apparently  refreshed  by  the  rest.  But  he  had  con- 
tracted pneumonia  en  route,  and  this,  in  addition  to  his  other 
serious  trouble,  made  it  soon  apparent  that  his  recovery  w^as  now 
extremely  doubtful.  When  the  Hotel  Del  Coronada  was  reached 
he  died. 

New  York  Commercial  Bulletin,  April  24  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers  of 
New  York  and  London,  died  at  the  Hotel  Del  Coronado  yestei-day 
morning.    Mr.  Seligman  had  been  a  sufferer  from  Bright's  disease 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  1 43 

for  some  time,  although  the  physicians  in  Coronado  say  the  trouble 
was  diagfnosed  differently  in  New  York.  His  condition  became 
so  serious  two  weeks  ago  that  his  family  decided  upon  the  trip 
across  the  continent,  hoping  to  baffle  the  disease.  Mr.  Seligman 
did  not  improve  the  first  two  days  out  from  New  York,  and  on 
last  Tuesday,  when  Topeka,  Kan. ,  was  reached,  it  w  as  deemed 
best  by  the  attending  physician  to  sidetrack  his  private  car  for  a 
time,  and  in  this  manner  give  the  patient  absolute  rest.  After  a 
stop-oyer  of  one  day,  the  journey  was  taken  up,  the  patient  being 
apparently  refreshed  by  the  rest. 

The  improvement  did  not  continue,  however,  and  as  he  neared 
the  coast  his  condition  was  causing  his  family  considerable  alarm. 
He  had  contracted  pneumonia  en  route,  and  this,  in  addition  to 
his  other  serious  trouble,  made  it  apparent  to  those  near  him  that 
his  recovery  was  now  extremely  doubtful.  Mr.  Seligman  was 
very  infirm  when  the  Hotel  del  Coronado  was  reached,  but  his 
condition  was  not  considered  dangerous  until  yesterday.  It  was 
seen  then  that  a  crisis  was  imminent,  and  his  physician  gave  out 
the  verdict  that  the  coming  twenty-four  hours  would  determine 
the  matter  of  life  or  death.  The  wife  and  daughter  became 
greatly  alarmed,  and  immediately  summoned  by  telegraph  all  the 
members  of  the  family.  Mr.  Seligman  grew  worse  during  the 
night,  and  expired  shortly  after  9. 30  this  morning.  He  retained 
consciousness  until  the  last.  The  body  was  embalmed  to-day, 
and  will  be  held  to  await  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Seligman' s  three  sons^ 
who  started  from  the  East  this  morning  by  a  special  train  for  San 
Diego.  Upon  their  arrival  the  family  will  accompany  the  remains 
to  New  York.     Mr.  Seligman  was  sixty-six  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  heavily  interested  in  the  Panama  Canal 
enterprise  and  was  at  the  head  of  the  American  syndicate  formed 
to  place  the  shares  in  this  country. 

Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  in  California  yesterday,  was  one 
of  the  leading  bankers  not  only  of  this  city  and  this  country,  but 
of  the  world.  Like  so  many  other  men  who  have  achieved  wealth 
and  fame  in  the  United  States,  he  began  life  as  a  poor  boy,  and 
was  emphatically  a  self-made  man.  He  had  a  genius  for  business, 
and  had  with  his  brothers  achieved  success  in  trade  before  the 
Civil  War  opened  a  wider  opportunity  before  him,  and  enabled 
him  to  become  an  important  factor  in  placing  our  bonds  abroad 
and  establishing  the  credit  of  the  United  States  upon  a  firm  and 
enduring  basis.  But  Mr.  Seligman  did  not  permit  his  great  bank- 
ing house  and  his  important  business  interests  to  absorb  his  acti- 
vities. He  contributed  freely,  though  unostentatiously,  to  numer- 
ous charitable  works  and  was  prominent  in  enterprises  of  public 
benefit.  His  death  makes  a  large  vacancy  in  many  circles  in  the  city. 


144  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

New  York  Mail  and  Express,  April  24,  iSg^. 

The  arrangements  for  the  funeral  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman, 
who  died  suddenly  yesterday  at  Coronado  Beach,  California,  have 
not  yet  been  completed.  The  remains  have  been  embalmed,  and 
will  be  brought  on  to  New  York  for  interment  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  banking  house  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  in  the  Mills  building, 
was  not  open  to-day,  and  this  notice  was  posted  on  the  entrance 
doors : 

"  Owing  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  the  banking  house 
will  not  be  open  for  business  to-day." 

All  through  Wall  Street  there  were  many  expressions  of  regret 
and  sympathy  at  the  death  of  the  eminent  financier. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  an  ardent  republican,  and  adhered  to  the 
plan  of  reorganization  proposed  by  the  Committee  of  Thirty,  of 
which  he  was  a  member. 

April  JO,  i8g4. 

The  special  train  bearing  the  body  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman  is 
expected  to  arrive  here  about  five  o'clock  this  afternoon.  The 
arrangements  for  the  funeral  are  not  yet  completed,  but  there 
will  be  private  services  at  the  house,  followed  by  public  services 
at  the  Temple  Emanu-El,  Forty-third  street  and  Fifth  avenue,  at 
at  ten  o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Gott- 
heil. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Union  League 
Club  last  week,  a  resolution  was  passed  that  the  Secretary  should 
issue  a  notice  of  the  funeral  to  the  members  of  the  Club,  and 
request  those  who  wished  to  attend  to  meet  at  the  club-house  and 
proceed  in  a  a  body  to  the  funeral. 

May  2,  i8g4. 

The  warm,  hushed  air  in  the  Temple  Emanu-El,  Fifth  Avenue 
and  Forty-third  Street,  was  fragrant  this  morning  with  the  odor 
of  violets  and  roses,  when  the  last  sad  rites  over  the  body  of  Jesse 
Seligman  were  held.  The  coffin  was  covered  with  greens  and 
flowers. 

The  members  of  the  family  of  the  dead  banker  occupied  the 
front  seats.  They  were  Mrs.  Jesse  Seligman,  Mr.  Theodore 
Seligman,  Mr.  Henry  Seligman,  Mr.  Albert  Seligman,  Miss  Made- 
line Seligman,  Miss  Alice  Seligman,  Mrs.  H.  Wasserman,  Mr. 
James  Seligman,  Professor  E.  R.  A.  Seligman,  Isaac  N.  Seligman, 
Dewitt  J.  Seligman  and  George  W.  Seligman. 

The  music  was  in  charge  of  A.  J.  Davis,  organist,  and  Frank 
Van  der  Stucken  bad  charge  of  the  quartet,  consisting  of  Miss 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  145 

Fannie  Hirsch,  Miss  Fitzhugh,  A.  Bulklev  Hills  and  Signer  C. 
Bologna.  Mendelssohn's  "  Parting  and  Meeting"  and  "  Cast  Thy 
Burdens"  were  sung,  and  as  the  funeral  party  passed  out  of  the 
church,  a  sweet  adagio  by  Tschaikowsky  was  sung. 

Then  came  the  officers,  and  after,  1 50  of  the  children  of  the  He- 
brew Orphan  Asylum,  who  thus  paid  a  touching  tribute  to  their 
dead  benefactor.  The  funeral  party  and  their  immediate  friends 
at  once  drove  to  the  Thirty-fourth  street  ferry,  where  special 
ferryboats  took  them  across  to  the  Long  Island  Railroad  station. 
The  interment  was  at  Cypress  Hills,  L.  I.,  in  the  family  vault. 

The  church  was  packed,  and  the  children  from  the  Orphan 
Asylum  had  seats  ofl  the  platform. 

Representatives  of  the  following  organizations  were  also  pre- 
sent: Montefiore  Home  for  Chronic  Invalids,  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  Educational  Alliance,  Aguilar  Free  Library,  Hebrew 
Free  Schools,  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  Independent  Order  B-'nai 
B'rith,  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  of  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  He- 
brew Technical  Institute,  Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund,  Seligman  Solo- 
mon Society,  Purim  Association,  Ministers'  Association  and  Home 
for  Aged  and  Infirm  Hebrews. 

The  banking,  financial  and  club  worlds  were  fully  represented. 
Among  those  present  at  the  church  were : 

Isidor  Wormser,  S.  S.  Shafer,  Charles  Sternbach,  Rev.  Dr. 
Kohler,  President  of  the  New  York  Board  of  Jewish  Ministers ; 
Gen.  Seasongood,  of  Cincinnati ;  Dr.  De  Sola  Mendes,  J.  Blu- 
menthal.  Col.  de  Freece,  who  represented  the  Hospital  Saturday 
and  Sunday  Association,  and  Dr.  Hirsch. 

New  York  Commercial  Advertiser,  April  2s,  iSg4. 

The  late  Jesse  Seligman  was  not  only  an  able,  successful  finan- 
cier, but  he  was  a  noble  citizen  in  ever}^  respect.  First  of  all,  he 
was  patriotic.  In  all  things  he  'was  liberal-minded.  His  gener- 
osity was  broad.  He  made  good  use  of  his  wealth.  He  was 
helpful  to  others,  and  he  felt  civic  pride  in  the  city  of  his  adoption, 
which  is  a  rare  thing  among  our  wealthy  men  of  affairs.  The 
memory  of  Jesse  Seligman  deserves  to  be  cherished. 

May  2,  i8g4. 

Public  funeral  services  over  the  body  of  Jesse  Seligman  were 
held  at  Temple  Emanu-El,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-third  Street, 
at  ten  o'clock  to-day.  Probably  no  resident  of  this  city  has  had 
so  largely  attended  a  funeral  in  many  years  as  that  of  the  dead 
philanthropist  to-day.  The  spacious  synagogue  where  the  services 
were  held  was  crowded  by  the  legions  of  friends  and  acquaintances 


146  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

who  had  come  into  contact  with  Mr.  Seligman  during  his  exem- 
plary career,  and  the  struggling  masses  who  were  trying  to  gain 
admission  extended  far  out  into  the  street.  Every  seat  within  the 
church  was  occupied,  and  the  space  between  the  pews  was  lilled 
up  by  occupied  camp  chairs. 

It  is  safe  to  say  that  more  than  3,000  people  came  to  the  church 
to  pay  a  farewell  homage  to  the  dead  banker.  In  the  audience 
were  men  of  national  repute — Senators,  judges,  representatives, 
generals,  merchants,  bankers  and  preachers,  many  of  them  of  the 
Christian  faith,  besides  thousands  in  the  middle  walks  of  life. 

Among  the  organizations  represented  at  the  funeral  were  the 
board  of  directors  of  the  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  directors  of  the 
Hebrew  Charities,  the  directors  of  the  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm 
Hebrews,  the  congregation  of  Temple  Emanu-El,  the  Young 
Men's  Hebrew  Association,  the  officers  and  managers  of  the 
Hebrew  Sheltering  Guardian  Society  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Purim 
Association,  the  Independent  Order  B'ne  B'rith,  the  Ladies'  Sew- 
ing Society  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  the  managers  of  the 
Sanitarium  for  Hebrew  Children,  the  Ladies'  Auxiliary'  Society  of 
the  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  the  directors  of  the  Hebrew  Technical 
Institute,  the  directors  of  the  Montefiore  Home,  and  the  Ladies' 
Bikur  Cholim  Society. 

The  body  of  Mr.  Seligman  reposed  on  a  raised  platform  in  front 
of  the  altar,  inclosed  in  a  cherry-wood  casket,  which  itself  was 
completely  hidden  by  a  covering  of  ivy  leaves  and  English  violets. 
Many  of  the  assembled  friends  eagerly  secured  the  stray  violets 
which  fell  from  the  coffin  to  the  floor  as  it  was  carried  up  the  cen- 
tre aisle  of  the  synagogue  at  g.55  o'clock. 

After  the  coffin  had  been  placed  on  the  platform,  a  quartet, 
under  the  direction  of  Frank  Van  de  Stucken  of  the  Arion  Society, 
sang  the  hymn  "Cast  thy  Burden."  The  services  were  then 
opened  by  an  address  by  Rabbi  Joseph  Silverman,  who  spoke 
feelingly  of  Mr.  Seligman's  modesty,  high  character,  manhood 
and  charity.  This  was  followed  by  the  hymn  "  Parting  and  meet- 
ing," by  Mendelssohn,  rendered  by  the  quartet.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Gottheil  then  delivered  a  eulogy  on  the  dead  banker,  following 
which  Chopin's  funeral  march  was  played  on  the  organ  as  the 
cortege  passed  out  of  the  church. 

The  following  members  of  the  Seligman  family  walked  behind 
the  coffin  :  Mrs.  Jesse  Seligman,  widow ;  Theodore  and  Henry 
Seligman,  sons;  Mrs.  Jesse  Wasserman  and  the  Misses  Alice  and 
Madeline  Seligman,  daughters,  and  James  Seligman,  a  brother  of 
the  dead  man. 

One  hundred  boys  from  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  and  the 
same    number    of  girls   from    that   institution,    who    had    been 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  I47 

seated  in  a  body  at  fhe  side  of  the  altar,  followed  the  members  of 
the  family.  Sixty  delegates  from  the  Union  League  Club  closed 
the  cortege. 

Among  others  present  were:  Bishop  Potter,  Dr.  John  Hall, 
Register  Levy,  Senator  Jacob  Cantor,  ex-Judge  Horace  Russell, 
Judge  Ehrlich,  Isidor,  Simon  and  Louis  Wormser,  Oscar  and 
Nathan  Straus,  Edward  Lauterbach,  Judge  Dittenhoefer,  Jacob 
Schiff,  Judge  Newburger,  School  Commissioner  Elias,  Solomon 
Loeb,  Louis  and  Simon  Stern  and  Isidor  Straus. 

More  than  100  can-iages  followed  the  body  down  Fifth  avenue 
to  Thirty-fourth  street,  thence  to  the  ferry  to  Long  Island  City. 
The  interment  took  place  at  Salem  Fields  Cemetery,  adjoining 
Cypress  Hills,  in  the  mammoth  family  mausoleum. 

May  12,  i8g^. 
The  last  monthly  meeting  of  the  Union  League  Club  for  the 
season,  held  on  Thursday  evening,  was  almost  entirely  of  a  memo- 
rial nature.  Resolutions  on  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  were 
read  and  adopted,  and  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  draft 
similar  resolutions  on  the  death  of  John  Jay,  who  was  a  former 
president  of  the  club,  and  which  are  to  be  presented  at  the  next 
regular  meeting  of  the  club  on  Thursda5^  June  14.  The  resolutions 
on  Mr.  Seligman's  death  were  brief  and  well  worded,  and  those 
who  read  between  the  lines  fancied  they  saw  a  disposition  on  the 
part  of  the  committee  which  prepared  the  tribute  to  make  some 
sort  of  tardy  amends  to  the  dead  man  for  the  wound  inflicted 
upon  him  by  the  rejection  of  his  son  as  a  member  of  the  club, 
and  from  which  he  never  entirely  recovered. 

New  York  Post,  April  24,  i8g4. 

The  shades  of  the  office  of  the  banking  and  stock-broking  firm 
of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  in  the  Mills  Building,  on  Broad  Street,  were 
all  drawn  down  this  morning,  and  on  the  door  was  this  notice: 

"  Owing  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  this  office  is  closed 
for  business. " 

In  response  to  inquiries,  it  was  stated  by  a  son  of  one  of  the 
members  of  the  firm  that  no  further  particulars  could  be  given 
out  yet  about  the  death  of  Mr.  Seligman,  nor  could  anything  be 
said  about  the  arrangements  for  the  funeral,,  as  it  had  not  been 
possible  to  make  any  in  the  absence  of  information  from  Coronado 
Beach,  Cal.,  where  Mr.  Seligman  died. 

May  2,  i8g4. 
Funeral  services  over  the  body  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman,  the 
well-known  banker,  were  held  this  morning  in  the  Temple  Emanu- 


148  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

El,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty -third  Street.  The  Temple  was 
crowded  to  the  doors,  at  which  it  became  necessary  to  place  police 
officers  in  order  to  keep  back  hundreds  of  people,  w^ho  were  thus 
turned  away.  The  most  conspicuous  fact  in  connection  with  the 
great  audience  was  that  there  seemed  to  be  almost  as  many  Gen- 
tile as  Jew  faces. 

Notable  amonj^f  others  were  Bishop  Henr\'  C.  Potter  and  the 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall.  It  had  been  announced  in  some  of  the 
papers  that  Bishop  Potter  would  make  an  address,  but,  although 
he  has  spoken  within  the  walls  of  this  Temple,  he  was  content  to 
testify,  by  his  simple  presence  on  this  occasion,  his  esteem  for  Mr. 
Seligman.  Almost  every  Hebrew  of  prominence  in  the  city  was 
to  be  seen  in  the  throng. 

Glowing  eulogies  upon  the  deceased  were  pronounced  by  the 
two  ministers  of  the  Temple,  the  Rev.  Drs.  Gustav  Gottheil  and 
Joseph  Silverman.  Appropriate  music  was  rendered  by  the  regu- 
lar choir  of  the  Temple. 

On  the  pulpit  platform  sat  about  half  the  children  of  the  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  Mr.  Seligman  was  President.  There 
was  also  present  in  the  body  of  the  church  a  delegation  of  pupils 
from  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  Trade-School,  with  the  manager  of  the 
school.  D.  Bloom. 

At  the  close  of  the  services,  the  body,  enclosed  in  a  coffin  com- 
pletely covered  with  violets,  and  surrounded  in  the  church  by 
some  fifty  floral  pieces,  was  removed  to  Cypress  Hills  Cemetery, 
where  it  was  interred  in  the  part  called  "Salem  Fields,"  near  the 
graves  of  Mr.  Seligman's  brother  Joseph, 'and  other  members  of  his 
family. 

New  York  News.  April  24,  18^4.. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman, 
bankers,  of  New  York  and  London,  which  occurred  yesterday,  has 
occasioned  quite  a  shock.  He  was  at  Coronado  Beach  for  th^ 
benefit  of  his  health,  and  arrived  four  days  ago,  direct  from  New 
York,  with  his  wife  and  daughter.  His  condition  had  become  so 
serious  on  his  arrival  that  all  the  members  of  his  familj-  were  tele- 
graphed for,  but  he  died  before  they  reached  here.  The  imme- 
diate cause  of  death  was  pneumonia. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  born  in  1825,  in  Baiesdorf,  Bavaria.  He 
came  to  America  in  1840,  and  began  life  by  peddling  among  the 
poor  in  New  York.  He  came  to  California  nine  years  later  with 
the  '4gers,  and  invested  his  savings  as  a  merchant  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  he  made  a  fortune.  Returning  to  New  York,  he  and 
his  richer  brothers  founded  their  famous  banking  house  during 
the  war,  and  they  have  been  wonderfully  prosperous  bankers  ever 
since. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  149 

Regret  was  heard  on  all  sides  in  this  city  over  Jesse  Seligman, 
the  philanthropist  banker's  death.  The  banking  house  at  21 
Broad  Street  was  closed  for  business. 

Funeral  arrangements  have  not  yet  been  completed,  owing  to 
the  absence  from  this  city  of  the  banker's  immediate  family. 
Theodore  and  Henry  Seligman  and  Mrs.  Edward  Wasserman 
were  notified  Saturday  night  of  the  serious  change  in  their  father's 
condition,  and  hurried  to  his  bedside  early  the  next  day.  The 
third  son,  Albert,  was  summoned  from  Montana,  while  Mrs. 
Seligman  and  the  two  daughters  Alice  and  Madeline  had  accom- 
panied Mr.  Seligman  when  he  started  away  on  the  trip  for  his 
health.  The  body  has  been  embalmed,  and  will  be  brought  to 
New  York  as  soon  as  the  sons  and  daughter  from  this  city  reach 
California.    The  burial  will  be  in  the  family  plot  in  Cypress  Hills. 

April  ^o,  i8g4. 

The  body  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  banker,  is  expected  to  arrive 
in  New  York  at  six  o'clock  this  evening,  accompanied  by  the 
widow  and  her  sons  and  daughters,  who  have  traveled  with  it 
from  Coronado  Beach,  where  the  banker  died  last  ISIonday.  Mr. 
James  Seligman,  the  dead  man's  only  brother  in  this  country,  left 
this  city  to-day  to  meet  the  funeral  train  in  Albany,  and  will 
return  with  the  family. 

At  the  Grand  Centi'al  Depot  the  body  will  be  met  by  relatives 
and  by  the  officers  and  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum,  twenty-one  in  number,  of  which  institution  Mr.  Seligman 
was  the  President.  The  delegation  will  proceed  to  the  house,  2 
East  Forty-sixth  Street,  following  behind  a  hearse  which  will  be 
in  readiness  to  receive  the  body. 

On  Wednesday,  after  private  services  are  held  at  the  house, 
public  services  will  begin  in  the  Temple  Emanu-El  at  ten  o'clock. 
One  side  of  the  Temple  wnll  be  reserved  for  delegations,  and  the 
other  side  and  the  galleries  are  for  the  public.  Officers  of  the 
Union  League  Club,  which  Club  never  accepted  Mr.  Seligman' s 
resignation,  will  attend  in  a  body,  as  well  as  other  clubs  and 
municipal  organizations.  Trustees  and  officers  of  charitable  insti- 
tutions will  be  largely  represented.  A  special  platform  for  150 
little  tots  from  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  will  be  reserved. 

There  will  be  twentj'-four  pall-bearers.  After  services  the  body 
will  be  taken  to  the  magnificent  family  mausoleum  in  C}-press 
Hills. 

May  2,  i8g4. 

The  last  tributes  to  the  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman  were  paid 
to-day  in  the  Temple  Emanu-El,  Forty-third  Street  and  Fifth 
Avenue.     The  large  edifice  was  crowded  to  its  utmost  capacity 


150  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

with  people.  Long  before  the  hour  set  for  the  services,  the  side- 
walks were  almost  impassable — made  so  by  those  who  were  wait- 
ing for  the  gates  to  be  opened. 

Private  services  were  held  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  house  of  the 
late  banker,  2  East  Forty-sixth  street. 

The  coffin  was  carried  downstairs  to  the  parlor,  where  a  mass 
of  flowers  was  laid  on  top  of  it.  Different  societies  had  sent  vari- 
ous emblems.  By  far  the  handsomest  was  one  sent  bjr  the  officers 
of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  it  being  a  Victor  wreath  composed 
of  Sago  palms,  lillies  of  the  valley  and  violets.  On  a  bow  of  pur- 
ple ribbon  was  inscribed:  "The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just 
shall  flourish  when  he  sleeps  in  dust." 

Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil  read  a  short  prayer  over  the  body  and  then 
the  lid  of  the  coffin  over  the  dead  man's  face  was  screwed  down, 
and  the  family  had  looked  on  him  for  the  last  time. 

It  took  twenty  policemen,  under  Sergeant  Kane,  to  keep  people 
at  the  Temple  fiom  getting  in  when  the  gates  were  opened  to 
admit  people  who  had  a  right  to  enter  earlier.  Five  minutes  after 
the  four  gates  on  Fifth  avenue  and  the  single  gate  on  Forty-third 
street  were  opened  and  every  public  seat  was  occupied.  One-half 
of  the  main  floor  was  reserved  for  delegations  from  the  various 
societies.  The  platform  in  front  of  the  Ark  was  occupied  by 
150  children  from  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum.  Those  occu- 
pying reserved  seats  were  the  trustees  of  the  Montefiore  Home, 
trustees  of  the  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  trustees  of  the  Home  for 
Incurables,  trustees  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Board  of 
the  Temple  Emanu-El,  trustees  of  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund, 
officers  of  the  Purim  Association,  officers  of  B'ne  B'rith,  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  and 
members  of  the  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  of  Mount  Sinai  Hospital. 

The  last  delegation  to  arrive  was  sixty  members  of  the  Union 
League  Club,  headed  by  President  Horace  Porter. 

The  funeral  procession  moved  slowly  up  the  aisle  to  the  accom- 
paniment of  a  solemn  dirge  on  the  organ,  and  the  coffin  was 
deposited  on  the  transverse  aisle  facing  the  Ark.  The  opening 
prayer  was  sung  by  the  cantor,  Mr.  Sparger,  in  which  those  pre- 
sent joined.  The  children  of  the  Orphan  Asylum  then  sang  a 
hymn,  after  which  the  assistant  minister.  Rev.  Dr.  Silverman, 
made  an  address. 

After  the  anthem,  "  Cast  Thy  Burden  on  the  Lord,"  the  presid- 
ing minister.  Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil,  made  an  address,  which  was 
followed  by  the  closing  hymn. 

The  body  was  taken  to  Cypress  Hills  Cemetery  immediately 
after  the  ceremonies,  followed  by  the  bereaved  family,  relatives 
and  friends  in  a  long  line  of  carriages.  It  was  deposited  in  the 
handsome  family  mausoleum. 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  151 

The  Evening  Telegram,  April  24,  i8g4. 
The  late  Jesse  Seligman  was  a  consistent  Republican,  and  was 
in  the  habit  of  working  quietly  and  effectively  for  his  party  around 
election  time.  A  member  for  twenty  years  and  a  vice  president 
for  fourteen  years,  he  resigned  from  the  Union  League  Club  last 
spring,  because  his  son  Theodore  was  blackballed.  The  only 
reason  for  the  blackballing  was  that  Theodore  was  a  Hebrew. 
Up  to  the  day  of  his  death  the  father's  resignation  had  not  been 
accepted.  Six  years  ago  Jesse  Seligman  was  suggested  as  the 
candidate  of  his  party  for  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  expressed  his 
unwillingness,  however,  to  accept  the  nomination. 

May  2,  i8g4. 

The  funeral  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  well  knoAvn  banker,  was  held 
in  Temple  Emanu  El,  Fifth  avenue  and  Forty-third  street  at  ten 
o'clock  this  morning. 

Fully  two  thousand  people  witnessed  the  ceremonies  from  the 
interior,  while  as  many  more  were  unable  to  obtain  admission. 

The  edifice  presented  an  appearance  which  will  not  soon  be 
forgotten  by  those  in  attendance.  One  hundred  and  iifty  boys 
and  girls  from  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  Mr.  Seligman 
was  president,  were  present.  These  children,  under  the  charge 
of  Superintendent  Baar,  were  ranged  at  the  rear  of  the  chancel. 

The  entire  front  of  the  altar  was  surrounded  by  a  mass  of  flowers 
whose  fragrance  perfumed  the  interior  of  the  edifice. 

In  the  front  row  of  seats,  directly  facing  Dr.  Silverman,  sat  Mrs. 
Jesse  Seligman,  James  Seligman,  a  brother  of  the  dead  man,  the 
sons,  Theodore  and  Henry  Sehgman,  Mrs.  Wasserman,  Miss 
Madeline  and  Miss  Alice  Sehgman,  daughters;  Mrs.  Theodore 
Hellman,  a  niece,  and  Miss  Floretta  Sehgman,  a  daughter  of 
James  Seligman. 

Immediately  behind  the  closer  relatives  were  others  of  the  Selig- 
man kindred.  The  families  of  the  Bernheimers,  Berners  and 
Lehmaiers  with  several  others,  brought  the  number  of  relatives  in 
the  church  in  the  neighborhood  of  one  hundred. 

Promptly  at  ten  o'clock  the  pallbearers  filed  into  the  church  with 
the  coffin  containing  the  body. 

The  tribute  to  the  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman  was  delivered  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Silverman.  The  speaker  described  Mr.  Seligman  as 
having  been  a  thoroughly  representative  Hebrew,  a  true  hearted 
American  patriot,  who  lived  and  died  in  his  faith.  Dr.  Silverman 
dwelt  at  length  on  the  many  deeds  of  humanity  done  by  Jesse 
Seligman  and  drew  a  life-like  picture  of  the  philanthropist. 

He  was  followed  in  the  same  strain  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil, 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  addresses  there  was  a  song  service. 

The  interment  was  in  Salem  Field  Cemeter}^  at  Cypress  Hills. 


152  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Town  Topics,  April  26,  iSg4. 

Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  was  a  promiQent  member  of  a  very  notable 
family  of  brothers,  who,  coming  of  the  same  stock  as  the  Roth- 
schilds, have  in  the  latter  half  of  the  century  had  a  similar  career 
to  that  of  their  co-religionists  of  Frankfort  in  the  early  part  of  it. 
In  both  cases  one  notes  the  truth  of  the  union  and  strength  pro- 
verb, and  in  both  that  almost  prophetic  political  foresight  which 
in  times  of  trouble  makes  fortunes  for  its  pos.scssor.  Given  these 
factors  and  join  with  them  energy  and  an  untarnished  reputation 
for  upright  dealing,  and  success  is  assured,  and  so  the  Seligman 
family  have  found  it.  In  their  case  the  elder  brothers  brought 
forward  the  younger,  and  when  the  stress  and  strain  of  the  civil 
war  came  their  faith  in  the  final  success  of  their  right  never  varied. 
Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  was  a  shrewd,  clever,  honest  man,  full  of  the 
kindly  and  charitable  impulses  which,  as  a  rule,  characterized  his 
race.  He  was  in  public  matters  a  patriotic  American  and  a 
staunch  party  man,  and  in  private  life  a  very  pleasant  companion. 
It  is  well  for  any  country-  to  have  many  citizens  of  his  quality. 

The  incident  at  the  Union  League  Club  last  year,  when  the 
blackballing  of  the  younger  Seligman  led  to  the  unaccepted  resig- 
nation of  his  father,  who  had  for  fourteen  years  been  a  vice- 
president  of  that  organization,  made  a  good  deal  of  stir  at  the 
time,  and  was  made  use  of  as  a  proof  of  the  universality  of  race 
prejudice.  In  point  of  fact,  the  action  of  the  Club  on  that  occasion 
did  not  express  the  Club  feeling.  The  opposition  to  the  election 
of  young  Seligman  was,  it  is  true,  put  on  race  grounds,  as  there 
was  no  po.ssible  objection  to  the  man  personally.  But  it  was  a  care- 
fully worked-up  opposition  by  a  limited  number  of  men,  most  of 
them  either  verj'^  young  or  else  rather  unsuccessful  oldsters,  and  it 
attracted  very-  little  attention  until  the  election  night  came.  As  a 
rule,  men  thought  that  Jesse  Seligman' s  son  would  be  elected  as  a 
matter  of  course  on  his  father's  account,  and  there  was  no  attempt 
at  an  organized  support  of  his  candidature  until  it  was  too  late. 
The  affair  was  regretted  by  the  more  prominent  members  of  the 
Club,  who  were  men  of  broad  views,  both  because  they  did  not 
believe  in  race  prejudice  and  on  account  of  the  respect  that  they 
had  for  the  elder  Seligman. 

In  Memoriam. — By  the  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  the  world 
loses  one  of  Nature's  noblemen.  His  life  can  be  best  summed  up 
in  the  words:  "Glory  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace, 
good-will  toward  men." 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  I53 

Jewish  Messenger,  April  sy,  i8g4. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  on  April  23d,  at  Coronado  Beach, 
Cal.,  in  his  sixty-eighth  year,  was  a  severe  shock  to  the  commu- 
nity. He  had  not  been  in  the  best  of  health  of  late,  and  a  trip 
across  the  continent  was  decided  upon  two  weeks  ago  as  the  best 
means  of  regaining  his  vigor.  The  end  came,  however,  with 
startling  suddenness,  and  now  the  genial,  whole-souled,  sagacious, 
philanthropic  man  is  but  a  memory. 

It  is  only  a  few  years  ago  when,  at  the  banquet  in  his  honor  in 
this  city,  Jesse  Seligman  gave  a  picturesque  description  of  his 
career,  from  his  landing  at  Castle  Garden  on  July  6th,  1840. 
Through  all  his  earl}^  vicissitudes  and  change  of  occupation — in 
his  successive  experiences  in  the  South,  North  and  West,  until  his 
fortune  was  securely  made  by  the  establishment,  by  himself  and 
brothers,  of  the  banking  firm  which  now  enjoys  an  international 
reputation,  Mr.  Seligman  secured  and  retained  public  esteem  by 
his  unfaihng  probity,  his  innate  courtesy,  his  generous  activity 
and  public  spirit.  And  in  the  days  of  his  assured  prosperity  he 
was  faithful  to  his  highest  ideals.  Perhaps  the  best  light  on  his 
success  is  furnished  by  his  own  words : 

"My  success,  whatever  it  has  been,  1  attribute  to  a  kind  and 
merciful  God." 

Mr.  Seligman's  activity  was  many-sided.  He  was  the  faithful 
citizen,  patriotic,  liberal,  devoted  to  his  adopted  country,  full  of 
love  for  America  and  American  freedom,  and  proud  to  render 
service  and  sacrifice  in  its  cause.  He  was  the  generous  worker  in 
public  enterprises  for  the  benefit  of  New  York — in  charity,  sci- 
ence, art,  education.  He  was  identified  with  his  own  creed  openly 
and  sincerely,  a  truly  representative  Hebrew.  As  one  of  the 
founders  of  Temple  Emanu-El,  as  president  for  many  years  of  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  as  one  of  the  leaders  in  aid  of  the  Rus- 
sian refugees,  and  always  glad  to  co-operate  in  every  wise  move- 
ment in  behalf  of  American  Judaism,  Mr.  Seligman  won  the 
esteem,  the  affection  of  his  associates,  the  love  of  the  entire 
community. 

Mr.  Seligman's  name,  the  honor  in  which  he  was  deservedly 
held,  is  his  best  monument.  The  charities  which  he  strove  so 
warmly  to  promote  form  his  most  fitting  epitaph.  His  half  cen- 
tury of  work  on  American  soil  is  text  and  sermon  for  all. 

Comments  upon  the  death  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman  indicate 
that  the  estimate  of  his  character  and  career  generally  formed  is 
singularly  free  from  bias,  on  account  of  his  recognized  standing 
m  financial  circles.  There  is  no  disposition  to  overrate  his 
importance  because  he  was  admittedly  a  wealth}'  man— a  banker 
of  national  prominence. 


154  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

As  in  his  life  he  served  his  fellow-believers  unselfishly  and  in  a 
spirit  of  philanthropy,  so  in  his  death  he  sheds  a  ray  of  sunshine 
upon  Jewish  character  in  his  own  person  and  in  the  surroundings 
of  friends,  admirers,  and  faithful  men  and  women  who  knew  him 
and  loved  him  for  his  amiability  no  less  than  for  his  zealous  devo- 
tion to  a  good  cause. 

Judaism  has  for  ages  unjustly  suffered  because  of  the  Shylock 
myth— a  combination  of  mean  cunning  and  savage  ferocity  utterly 
foreign  to  Jewish  character  and  designedly  attributed  to  a  Vene- 
tian Jew  while  truly  depicting  a  Christian  usurer.  Discoveries 
based  upon  authentic  records  prove  that  when  the  kings  of  Eng- 
land six  centuries  ago  inflicted  upon  Jews  penalties  of  fine,  im- 
prisonment and  exile,  it  was  often  because  these  meek  and  timid 
bankers  did  not  instantly  give  to  their  royal  partners  the  lion's 
share  of  the  profits  in  the  enterprise. 

To-day,  Judaism  is  understood  somewhat  better.  The  leading 
men  and  women  of  the  century  defend  the  Russian  exile  unjustly 
accused  of  disloyalty  and  the  German  Israelite  denied  the  honors 
and  the  rights  which  law  and  society  would  cordially  confer  were 
he  a  member  of  the  Church. 

Mr.  Seligman  fittingly  illustrated  the  Jew  of  this  century.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  synagogue,  a  devoted  leader  in  benevolent 
work ;  and  outside  of  the  sphere  in  which  denominational  activity 
is  usual  among  Americans,  he  was  o.  good  citizen,  shrinking  from 
no  labor  or  sacrifice  common  to  his  contemporaries,  appreciated  in 
financial  and  political  circles  for  his  eminence  in  work  and  counsel, 
and  taking  social  rank  due  to  the  refinement,  liberality  and  public 
spirit  he  manifested  in  his  capacity  as  a  man  of  affairs. 

Happily  Mr.  Seligman' s  example  is  clearly  understood.  Never 
ostentatious,  he  was  always  liberal.  Profoundly  moved  by  the 
sight  or  the  knowledge  of  suffering,  he  was  ready  to  aid  by  per- 
sonal labor  and  advice,  as  well  as  pecuniarily.  And  the  influence 
he  had  acquired  by  his  position  among  the  best  people  of  our  city, 
he  was  prompt  to  employ  in  the  interest  of  philanthropy.  It  is 
known  that  he  enjoyed  relations  of  mutual  confidence  and  respect 
with  successive  national  administrations,  and  thus  he  was  enabled 
to  lend  a  helping  hand  in  serious  emergencies  threatening  the 
liberty  and  the  lives  of  bis  coreligionists. 

His  death -the  general  expression  of  respect  and  sorrow — 
recalls  his  life,  that  of  a  true  American  gentleman, — remembering 
his  origin,  the  obligations  of  the  successful  man  toward  his  kins- 
men, the  suffering  and  the  oppressed, — interested  in  denomina- 
tional charities  and  mi.ssions, — and  going  about  his  daily  avoca- 
tion with  a  keen  perception  of  duty  toward  his  neighbor.  We 
shall  all  remember  him  as  "one  who  loved  his  fellowmen." 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  I55 

Hebrew  Standard,  April  27,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman  died  at  Coronado,  Cal.,  on  Monday  last.  The 
end  came  peacefully,  and  consciousness  was  retained  to  the  last. 
Mr.  Seligman  came  to  Coronado  last  Friday,  accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Seligman  and  two  daughters.  He  had  felt  for  some  time  that  his 
health  was  impaired,  and  he  hoped  the  quiet  of  this  place  and  the 
mild  climate  would  restore  his  health.  He  expressed  himself  as 
hopeful  when  he  came  that  the  change  would  benefit  him,  and  for 
a  time  it  seemed  that  his  expectations  were  well-grounded. 

Shortly  afterward,  however,  his  condition  became  serious,  and 
it  was  evident  yesterday  that  a  crisis  was  coming.  His  immediate 
family  was  notified  to  prepare  for  the  worst.  He  sank  steadily 
during  Sunday  night  and  until  he  died. 

The  local  physicians  who  attended  Mr.  Seligman  say  Bright' s 
disease  caused  his  death.  They  declare  further  that  his  ailment 
was  not  properly  diagnosed  in  New  York,  and  that  his  treatment 
was  of  no  benefit.  He  was  supposed  to  be  suffering  from  pneu- 
monia when  he  went  to  Coronado. 

At  the  banquet  which  was  given  to  Jesse  Seligman,  October  i, 
1S91,  at  Delmonico's,  by  the  officers  and  directors  of  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities,  there  was  paid  to  Mr.  Seligman  a  tribute  such 
as  few  private  citizens  have  received.  Jacob  H.  Schiff,  who  pre- 
sided at  this  meeting,  said,  among  other  things: 

"  Honored  by  the  best  of  the  nation  because  of  the  purity  of  his 
patriotism  and  his  loyalty  to  his  country,  respected  by  his  towns- 
men for  his  civic  virtues  and  public  services,  beloved  by  his 
co-religionists  because  of  his  warm  devotion  to  his  race,  whose 
best  interests  he  stands  ever  ready  to  serve  and  defend,  Jesse 
Seligman  is — we  proclaim  it  with  pride — the  truest  and  best  expo- 
nent of  the  type  of  a  man  and  a  Jew,  whom  only  a  great  country 
like  our  own  can  produce,  a  representative  Hebrew-American." 

It  was  in  the  admirable  speech  made  at  this  banquet  that  Mr. 
Seligman  told  something  of  his  life — a  life  that  has  won  for  him 
the  respect  and  admiration  of  the  people  of  this  city  and  those 
elsewhere  who  knew  him.  No  man  was  broader  in  his  views, 
more  tolerant,  more  kindly,  more  truly  philanthropic.  It  was  said 
of  this  speech  that  it  should  be  placed  before  every  youth  in  the 
land,  that  he  might  profit  by  the  lessons  therein  contained. 

The  Financial  Record  has  said  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman, 
of  which  the  man  who  has  just  died  was  the  most  prominent 
member :  ' '  The  name  of  Seligman  is  a  tower  of  strength,  and 
synonymous  of  all  that  is  progressive,  liberal  and  influential,  not 
only  in  the  financial  marts  of  the  Western  continent,  but  in  Europe 
as  well." 


156  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

The  New  York  house  has  quarters  in  the  Mills  Building.  It 
was  under  the  personal  direction  of  James  and  Jesse  Selignian. 
Within  the  past  few  years  the  house  has  been  heavily  interested 
in  railroad  property,  particularly  South-western  securities.  It 
also  made  large  investments  in  street  railway  lines,  notably  in  the 
surface  railroads  of  Brooklyn. 

.  At  136th  street  is  the  most  splendid  monument  that  can  be 
erected  to  his  memorj'.  It  is  the  great  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum, 
which  he  established  in  1859.  Then  it  had  only  fourteen  little 
■ones  and  a  capital  of  less  than  $10,000.  From  that  day  until  the 
day  of  his  death  this  great  institution  had  the  benefit  of  Mr.  Selig- 
man's  personal  solicitude  and  his  great  financial  skill.  He  was 
its  President  for  more  than  twenty  years.  Each  morning  when 
-he  came  to  the  office  the  first  thing  he  did  was  to  telephone  to  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Asylum  and  ask  about  the  children.  He 
had  a  personal  interest  in  each  one  of  the  six  or  seven  hundred 
who  lived  there.  Every  Sunday  morning  when  he  was  in  the  city 
Mr.  Seligfman  always  visited  the  Asylum. 

He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Temple  Emanu-El  and 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  and  contributed  to  that  Association 
large  sums  of  money.  He  was  a  director  in  the  New  York  Asso- 
ciation for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  and  to  this  also 
he  gave  freely.  But  there  were  many  private  benefactions  of 
which  no  one  knew  anything  except  in  the  most  general  way. 

Our  community  has  to  mourn  the  loss  by  death  of  one  who  for 
many  years  has  been  one  of  its  chief  pillars,  one  of  its  most 
honored  representatives,  one  who  willingly  aided  in  bearing  its  bur- 
dens and  shedding  lustre  upon  its  name.  Few  of  our  co-religionists 
in  this  country  have  been  so  long  and  so  conspicuously  esteemed 
by  the  world  as  a  son  of  Israel  who  could  speak  for  the  Jews  and 
stand  forth  as  their  spokesman  when  occasion  required. 

The  great  financial  genius  of  which  he  was  possessed  was  evi- 
denced by  the  success  with  which  he  toiled  upwards  from  the  pov- 
erty of  his  youth,  and  built  up  with  his  brothers  the  world-famous 
banking  house  of  which  he  was  the  chief;  by  the  skill  which  he 
displayed  in  patriotically  assisting  the  Government  during  the 
Civil  War  in  the  task  of  solving  the  terrible  financial  problems, 
with  which  it  was  confronted. 

His  sterling  unimpeachable  integrity,  his  keen  sagacity  and 
•wide  knowledge  of  affairs  and  of  men,  his  loyal  and  devoted 
patriotism,  these  were  the  qualities  and  traits  of  character  that 
secured  for  him  the  intimacy  and  confidence  of  the  most  eminent 
of  public  men  in  the  national  councils,  who  were  ever  eager  to 
obtain  his  advice  and  confer  with  him  in  regard  to  the  high  inter- 
ests of  the  Government. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  157 

His  pride  in  the  city  of  his  adoption  led  him  to  concern  himself 
with  all  that  might  lead  to  the  welfare  of  this  municipality ;  every 
practicable  measure  and  means  for  the  betterment  and  the  beauti- 
fying of  the  city  had  in  him  an  earnest  and  energetic  supporter. 
His  influence  was  one  felt  in  the  direction  of  providing  improved 
conditions  of  life  for  the  poor  and  the  unfortunate. 

And  what  has  he  not  done  and  been  for  our  Jewish  philanthropic 
work!  With  all  his  immense  burden  of  thought  and  activity, 
entailed  by  his  wide-reaching  mercantile  and  financial  relations, 
he  found  time  to  interest  himself  intimately  in  the  vast  and  varied 
communal  interests,  attending  sedulously  the  annual  meetings, 
^nd  counselling  sagely  and  shrewdly  and  with  the  intelligence  of 
one  who  thinks  much  and  well. 

But  of  all  these  institutions  it  was  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum 
that  stirred  his  heart,  occupied  his  time  and  thought,  aroused  his 
care  and  anxiety  and  evoked  his  devotion.  A  veritable  father  he 
was  in  feeling  towards  those  hundreds  of  children  deprived  of  a 
father's  care  and  of  a  mother's  solicitude.  The  noble  progress  of 
the  Institution,  its  noble  developments,  owes  much  to  his  fostering 
zeal. 

For  him,  with  his  knowledge  of  the  world  and  of  men,  the  Ethi- 
cal Culture  movement  had  no  charm.  To  his  mind,  there  was  no 
manliness  in  basely  deserting  the  faith  of  his  fathers  and  the 
ranks  of  his  co-religionists.  The  noble  eulogy  of  him  as  a  Jew, 
uttered  by  Henry  Ward  Beecher  at  the  time  of  the  Hilton  anti- 
Jewish  crusade  at  Saratoga  Springs,  was  sweeter  to  him  than  any 
hypocritical,  sanctimonious  patting  on  the  back  by  non-Jews  glad 
at  a  convert 

It  is  indeed  a  pleasure  to  honor  his  memory,  though  it  is  a 
piteous  cause  of  grief  that  now  he  is  but  a  memory.  He  was  a 
dignified,  honorable,  admirable  gentleman.  He  was  a  philan- 
thropist, who  was  not  satisfied  with  mere  giving  of  foods,  but 
shared  in  the  labor  of  its  wise  distribution.  He  was  a  public- 
spirited  citizen,  who  was  not  content  with  merely  casting  his 
ballot,  but  concerned  himself  with  the  active  affairs  of  political 
life,  without  any  wish  for  political  office.  He  was  a  Jew  for  whom 
membership  in  a  synagogue  did  not  suffice,  but  who  identified 
himself  conspicuously  with  the  religious  life  of  Israel. 

The  Sun,  April  2^,  i8g4. 
The  Seligmans  were  a  vivid  refutation  of  the  rule  that  to  make 
money  in  this  world  a  man  must  begin  at  one  thing  and  stick  to  it 
all  his  life.  Jesse  Seligman,  who  has  just  died,  began  as  a  ped- 
dler in  what  is  known  as  the  fancy  goods  business,  then  became  a 
retail  clothier,  after  that  a  promoter,  and  finally  a  banker.     Of 


158  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

his  seven  brothers,  five  have  been  interested  in  business  of  various 
sorts,  but  they  gradually  drifted  into  the  same  office,  with  the 
head  of  the  big  banking  firm  on  Broad  Street.  Even  there,  how- 
ever, the  Seligmans  were  noted  tor  the  extraordinary  diversity  of 
their  operations.  They  have  been  known  literally  in  every 
section  of  New  York  where  money  is  made.  Jesse  Seligman's 
popularity  in  the  business  and  political  world  was  based  upon  his 
singularly  modest  and  amiable  manner,  as  well  as  his  great 
executive  ability.  The  members  of  his  banking  firm  were  always 
accessible  to  visitors  of  any  sort,  and  there  was  an  absence  of  the 
atmosphere  of  austere  reserve  which  the  large  banking  houses 
usually  cultivate  in  the  vicinity  of  Wall  Street.  The  Seligmans 
were  at  all  times  exceedingly  approachable  and  amiable,  and 
these  characteristics  were  rigorously  insisted  upon  by  the  dead 
financier,  who  has  been  for  many  years  the  head  and  chief  mana- 
ger of  the  banking  house. 

Two  citizens  of  New  York  who  have  died  recently  were  types  of 
Americans  who  know  best  how  to  improve  the  opportunities  for 
elevation  offered  here  as  in  no  other  country  of  the  world,  instead 
of  railing  against  them  because  their  profitable  use  requires 
struggle  and  self-denial. 

One  of  those  men  was  David  Dudley  Field,  an  American  of  the 
old  New  England  stock,  and  the  other  was  Jesse  Seligman,  a  Jew 
born  in  Bavaria,  who  immigrated  to  this  country  in  his  boyhood, 
more  than  fifty  years  ago.  Relatively  to  a  great  part  of  our  pre- 
sent population,  Mr.  Seligman,  therefore,  was  himself  of  the  older 
stock.  Up  to  the  time  when  he  came  hither,  in  1841,  the  immi- 
gration had  been  small  as  compared  with  what  it  has  been  since ; 
and  not  until  five  years  thereafter  did  it  begin  to  pour  in  with  the 
flood  which  has  changed  the  character  of  the  populMion  so  greatly. 
The  immigration  in  1841  was  only  about  80,000;  in  1850  it  had 
risen  to  nearly  370,000;  in  1892  it  was  nearly  624,000.  Mr.  Field's 
ancestors  also  were  immigrants,  but  they  came  among  the  early 
settlers  of  the  country,  so  that  he  was  born  in  Connecticut.  How- 
ever, the  important  changes  in  our  social  conditions,  due  to 
immigration,  occurred  during  the  lifetime  of  them  both. 

Mr.  Field  was  the  son  of  a  New  England  minister,  from  whom 
he  inherited  valuable  qualities,  but  no  material  wealth.  He  had 
his  own  way  to  make  from  the  very  start.  Mr.  Seligman  was  a 
poor  Jewish  boy  when  he  landed  in  New  York.  He  began  here 
with  the  handicapping  of  ignorance  of  our  language  and  of  race 
prejudice  against  him.  By  saving  a  little  money  from  his  scanty 
gains,  he  was  able  to  go  into  peddling  with  his  brothers.  He  car- 
ried his  pack  on  his  back,  and  tramped  after  a  living.     Keeping 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  1 59 

on  saving,  he  accumulated  enough  capital  to  set  up  with  them  a 
stationery  business.  In  1850  the  California  gold  discoveries  led 
him  to  that  State,  where  he  made  more  money,  and  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  great  fortune  of  many  millions  of  which  he  died 
possessed,  but  he  got  that  fortune  by  trade,  not  by  digging  gold 
out  of  the  earth.  Afterward  he  removed  to  this  city,  and  joined 
his  brothers  in  the  clothing  business,  from  which,  in  the  course 
of  a  few  years,  he  built  up  the  banking  house  now  known  through- 
out the  world.  Mr.  Field,  an  older  man  by  twenty-two  years,  had 
worked  his  way  through  Williams  College,  had  assisted  his  bro- 
thers to  an  education  and  to  business  success,  and  was  already 
winning  distinction  at  the  bar  when  the  other  first  landed  here. 

The  careers  of  these  two  men  were  not  singular  for  their  time, 
nor  will  they  be  singular  as  compared  with  the  careers  of  multi- 
tudes who  ai  e  now  beginning  where  they  started  and  to  whose 
industry,  perseverance  and  wisdom  as  many  and  as  good  oppor- 
tunities are  now  open  as  were  enjoyed  by  them  in  their  youth. 
They  did  not  proceed  on  the  theory  of  the  Coxey  tramps,  that  the 
world  owed  them  a  living,  but  that  if  they  were  to  have  a  living 
they  would  have  to  make  it.  They  did  not  stand  gaping  at  the 
clouds,  waiting  for  manna  to  fall  from  heaven  for  their  sustenance, 
and  they  did  not  spend  in  cursing  inevitable  social  Conditions  the 
time  and  thought  and  energy  they  needed  to  employ  for  the  im- 
provement of  their  own  condition. 

With  very  few  exception.'?,  comparatively,  all  the  successful  men 
in  this  country  have  started  as  they  started.  Nearly  all  the  pros- 
perous men  in  business  and  most  of  those  in  the  professions 
began  as  poor  boys.  The  fortunes  in  this  country  are  new.  They 
are  possessed  alhiost  wholly  by  those  who  accumulated  them, 
themselves,  from  small  beginnings.  If  contemptible  envy  of  their 
success  shall  induce  legislation  to  punish  their  thrift  by  the  penalty 
of  special  taxation  directed  against  a  quality  so  essential  to  the 
preservation  and  the  highest  development  of  society,  the  blow 
will  be  struck  against  everybody  who  is  striving  to  get  ahead  in 
the  world.  Such  legislative  discrimination  would  be  a  new  obstacle 
to  progress.  It  would  tend  to  discourage  such  virtue  and  enter- 
prise. The  logical  consequence  of  the  principle  would  be  further 
and  heavier  impositions  fatal  to  their  cultivation.  Really  it  is 
against  the  poor  man  as  much  as  the  rich  man,  for  the  great  mass 
of  the  rich  men  to  be  are  now  poor  men  struggling  to  win  the 
independence  of  wealth. 

At  this  time  a  vicious  and  a  vile  doctrine  is  preached  by  dema- 
gogues and  social  disturbers  in  this  country.  So  far  as  it  is  fol- 
lowed, it  will  be  hurtful  to  the  poor  far  more  than  to  the  rich.  It 
is  un-American  and  undemocratic  in  both  a  general  and  a  specific 


l6o  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

partisan  sense.  It  is  the  teaching  of  laggards  and  cowards  who 
seek  to  hold  back  the  march  of  progress  and  to  demoralize  the  line 
pressing  forward  boldly  and  eagerly  to  fight  the  battle  of  life. 

May  J,  iSg4. 

The  body  of  Jesse  Seligman  was  buried  yesterday  afternoon  in 
the  Salem  Fields  Cemetery  at  Cypress  Hills.  Nearly  two  hundred 
carriages  followed  the  hearse.  At  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning 
private  services  were  held  at  the  Seligman  home,  2  East  Forty- 
sixth  street,  no  one  but  the  family  and  the  pall-bearers  being  pre- 
sent. Before  that  hour  Fifth  avenue  for  a  block  each  side  of  the 
Temple  Emanu-El,  at  Forty-third  street,  was  crowded.  When  the 
doors  were  opened  2,000  of  them  crowded  into  the  synagogue. 
Many  who  could  not  gain  admission  remained  outside  during  the 
entire  service,  and  hundreds  returned  home  unable  to  obtain  an 
entrance. 

The  funeral  procession  arrived  at  ten  o'clock.  Victor  Herbert, 
the  'cellist,  played  softly  as  the  pall-bearers  filed  in,  led  by  Mayor 
Gilroy  and  Lewis  May.  The  big  platform  was  half  occupied  by 
floral  pieces  sent  by  friends  and  half  by  one  hundred  Hebrew 
orphan  boj'S  in  uniform  and  seventy-five  little  girls  from  the 
Orphan  Asylum.  As  soon  as  the  mourners  were  seated  the  Rev. 
William  Sparger,  the  cantor  of  the  temple,  read  a  psalm  and  sang 
a  funeral  hymn. 

New  York  Recorder,  May  j,  iSg4. 

Two  thousand  persons  sought  admission  to  the  Temple  Emanu- 
El  yesterday  morning,  anxious  to  pay  tribute  to  the  memorj'  of 
Jesse  Seligman.  The  cofiin  containing  the  dead  banker's  body 
was  carried  into  the  sacred  edifice  at  ten  o'clock,  and  at  that  time 
the  platform  in  front  of  the  ark  was  occupied  by  one  hundred 
children  from  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum. 

The  coffin,  after  it  had  been  put  in  its  resting-place,  was  almost 
hidden  under  violets,  ivy  and  maidenhair  ferns. 

In  the  front  pews  were  Mrs.  Seligman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward 
Wasserman,  the  Misses  Alice  and  Madeline  Seligman,  Professor 
E.  R.  A.  Seligman,  J.  N.  Seligman  and  De  Witt  J.  Seligman. 

Others  present  were  Bishop  Potter,  President  Jonas  Wilde  and 
Vice-President  A.  Peabody,  of  the  Lebanon  Hospital ;  Drs.  Wilde 
and  Lord,  and  Messrs.  Schaik  and  Keller,  of  the  same  institution, 
and  President  Meechen,  of  the  Mechanics'  and  Traders'  Bank. 

Among  the  institutions  represented  were  the  Montefiore  Home 
for  Chronic  Invalids,  the  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Hebrews, 
the  Hebrew  Technical  Institute,  the  United  Hebrew  Charities, 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  l6l 

the  Independent  Order  of  B'ne  B'rith,  the  Sanitarium  for  Hebrew 
Children,  and  the  local  board  of  the  Jewish  ministers.  There  was 
also  a  large  delegation  from  the  Union  League  Club. 

Eulogistic  addresses  M^ere  made  by  Rabbis  Gottheil  and  Silver- 
man. 

While  the  services  were  in  progress  Central  Ofifice  Detectives 
Bonnoil  and  Cary  arrested  Moritz  Rodenburg  and  James  Back, 
who  were  acting  suspiciously  in  the  crowd  in  front  of  the  temple. 
The  detectives  said  the  men  were  notorious  pickpockets  whose 
pictures  in  the  Rogues'  Gallery  are  numbered  respectively  23  and 
2018. 

May  4,  i8g4. 

One  of  the  many  pleasant  tributes  to  the  memory  of  the  late 
Jesse  Seligman  was  the  presence  among  his  pall-bearers  of  repre- 
sentatives from  all  the  religious  sects. 

May  6,  iSg.-i- 
Miss  Madeline  Seligman,  the  youngest  daughter  of  the  late  Jesse 
Seligman,  is  a  well-developed  young  woman  of  about  twenty  years 
of  age.  She  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  her  father,  both  in 
face  and  character.  He  was  a  large-hearted,  generous  man,  and 
his  daughter  is  never  so  happy  as  when  she  is  dispensing  gifts. 
Both  Jew  and  Gentile  come  in  for  a  share  of  her  generosity.  At 
Christmas,  a  festival  which  naturally  can  have  little  personal 
significance  to  her,  she  often  supplies  the  tree — with  its  gifts — for 
a  child's  hospital,  under  the  management  of  some  Sisters  of  Char- 
ity. Mount  Sinai  Hospital  comes  in  for  a  goodly  share  of  her 
attention. 

The  American  Hebrew,  April  2-j.  1804. 

A  great  man  in  Israel  has  fallen ;  fled  has  the  spirit  of  one  of 
nature's  noblemen,  whose  keenest  pleasure  it  was  to  do  his  duty 
to  mankind,  regardless  of  creed,  but  whose  first  and  best  efforts 
were  given  to  bettering  the  condition  of  those  to  whom  he  was 
attached  by  the  ties  of  a  common  faith. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  will  come  with  a  shock  to  those  who 
knew  not  of  his  failing  health.  By  the  advice  of  his  physician,  he 
had  gone  to  seek  health  in  the  salubrious  climate  of  the  Pacific 
coast,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  daughters,  but  he  succumbed 
to  Bright' s  disease  and  pneumonia,  and  died  on  Tuesday  last  at 
Coronado  Beach,  San  Diego,  Cal. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  last  appearance  here  was  at  the  Hebrew  Oiphan 
Asylum,  of  which  he  had  been  President  for  veiy  many  j^ears,  and 
which  engrossed  the  larger  part  of  his  time  that  was  not  taken  up 
by  his  business.     Three  weeks  ago  last  Sunday  he  presided  at  a 


l62  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

meeting  of  the  trustees,  but  there  was  missing  that  genial,  cheerful 
spirit  that  iiniformly  characterized  him.  He  appeared  listless, 
presided  perfunctorily,  and  his  fellow-officers  were  pained  to  watch 
him.  A  couple  of  days  before  starting  on  his  trip  he  called  at  the 
Asylum  to  bid  farewell  to  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Baar  and  the  children,  for 
this  pet  institution  received  always  his  last  and  first  attention,  as 
he  never  returned  from  abroad  or  came  into  town  from  the  countiy 
but  that  he  visited  the  place  without  loss  of  time. 

The  Orphan  Asylum  is  blessed  in  having  at  its  head  a  board  of 
-  of  officers  who  bring  to  its  interests  as  close  attention  and  affection 
as  is  accorded  to  their  own  private  affidrs;  yet  there  are  few  who 
are  so  warmly  attached  to  the  institution  and  its  wards  and  to 
whom  in  turn  the  latter  looked  with  such  affection  as  the  honored 
head  that  has  been  called  away.  Never  absent  from  a  meeting  if 
within  reaching  distance,  he  presided  with  a  dignity  and  fiiTnness, 
tempered  by  gentleness  that  at  all  times  effectually  avoided  an^- 
clash  between  those  present,  however  warm  a  debate  might  be- 
come, and  it  goes  without  saying  that  in  a  gathering  of  such 
positive  men  as  compose  the  directorj'^  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum,  there  must  have  been  occasion  at  times  for  smoothing 
dowm  the  little  irritabilities  of  debate. 

The  same  qualities  were  noticeable  at  the  different  important 
gatherings  of  prominent  Hebrews  that  have  been  called  from  time 
to  time  in  recent  years,  either  in  connection  with  the  emigration 
-movement  or  concerning  other  work  among  the  Jews,  for  Mr. 
Seligman— easily  admitted  to  be  the  first  Jew  in  the  land,  and 
recognized  as  such  by  Jew  and  Christian  alike,  by  reason  of  his 
.wealth,  the  respect  in  which  he  was  held  by  all  regardless  of  creed, 
the  particular  interest  which  he  took  in  all  things  Jewn.sh,  and  the 
support  he  was  ready  to  bring  to  every  good  movement — was 
usually  called  upon  to  preside ;  and  if  in  the  discussion  there  arose 
asperities,  a  few  words  from  the  gentle  chairman  were  like  oil 
upon  the  troubled  waters. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  interest  was  not  confined  altogether  to  the  Oiphan 
Asylum,  which  will  ever  be  linked  with  his  name,  for  rarely  was 
there  a  meeting  of  any  of  our  communal  institutions  but  found 
him  present  and  ready  to  say  a  few  words  of  encouragement. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  the  Treasurer  of  the  Baron  de  Hirsch  Fund, 
which  has  the  management  of  two  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars 
sent  hither  by  Baron  de  Hirsch  to  be  used  for  the  education  and 
assistance  of  refugees  from  Russian  oppression,  and  was  the  chair- 
man of  the  Emergency  Fund,  con.sisting  of  between  eighty  and 
ninety  thousand  dollars  raised  by  the  Jews  this  winter  to  practically 
assist  worthy  persons  who  are  in  distress  because  of  the  depression 
in  business,  and  who  could  not  apply  to  the  United  Hebrew  Char- 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  163 

ities,  because  of  the  character  of  their  needs  or  their  social  position, 
and  the  amount  that  would  be  required  to  tide  them  over  their 
difficulties,  but  whose  cases  were  as  pressing  as  those  of  the 
humblest  applicant  at  the  Charities. 

That  Mr.  Seligman  has  never  occupied  a  public  position,  is  due 
entirely  to  the  fact  that  what  time  he  had  to  spare  from  his  business^ 
and  his  family,  he  chose  to  give  solely  to  the*  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum.  He  had  been  more  than  once  asked  to  stand  for  election, 
but  could  not  be  drawn  into  doing  so.  He  could  have  held  the 
post  of  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under  President  Grant,  but 
wotild  not,  as  it  would  have  necessitated  his  withdrawal  from 
business.  He  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Republican 
party,  and  was  for  a  long  time  vice-president  of  the  Union  League 
Club,  in  whose  councils  he  was  always  prominent.  He  ceased  his- 
connection  with  it  however,  and  gave  up  his  office  of  vice-president 
after  fourteen  years'  occupancy,  when  one  of  his  sons  was  up  for 
election  just  a  year  ago  and  w-as  blackballed  by  a  clique  of  youn^ 
men  because  of  his  religion.  The  scene  was  described  as  a  dra 
matic  and  pathetic  one.  The  aged  Mr.  Seligman  arose  and  spok 
a  few  words.  All  he  said  was,  that  ' '  there  have  been  a  number 
of  new  members  elected,  but  the  name  of  my  son  is  omitted  from 
the  list.  There  had  been  no  objection  to  me  when  I  was  chosen 
to  membership  twenty-four  years  ago,  and  I  have  served  the  Club 
in  an  official  capacity  for  fourteen  years.  I  beg  to  resign  from  the 
Club.  The  decision  against  my  son  is  against  me."  There  was  a 
tremor  in  his  voice  and  tears  stood  in  his  eyes.  The  scene  will 
never  be  forgotten  by  those  who  were  present,  and  cries  of 
"shame,"  came  from  all  parts  of  the  room.  The  action  of  the 
Club  was  a  severe  blow  to  Mr.  Seligman.  His  tender  nature  was 
sorely  aggrieved  by  its  action,  and  he  never  fully  recovered  from 
its  effects. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  Judaism  was  not  ostentatious,  but  he  was  a  firm- 
Jew,  earnestly  interested  in  Jewish  work,  and  regular  in  his  atten- 
dance at  Temple  Emanu-El,  with  which  he  had  always  been  con- 
nected, his  brother  James,  being,  if  we  are  not  in  error,  the  only 
one  living  who  took  part  in  the  formation  of  the  congregation-..  By 
his  life,  he  caused  Judaism  to  be  respected  in  many  quarters  where 
a  feeling  of  prejudice  would  otherwise  have  been  manifested,  and 
he  was  respected  and  honored  by  his  brethren  throughout  the  world.' 

The  pride  which  they  felt  in  Mr.  Seligman,  found  vent  in  a  ban- 
quet tendered  to  him  at  Delmonico's,  in  September  of  iSgi,  prior 
to  his  departure  for  a  trip  abroad,  where  the  presidents  and  offxcsrs 
of  every  Jewish  institution  in  this  city  joined  to  testify  their  love 
and  admiration  for  Mr.  Seligman.  Never  have  we  witnessed  such- 
an  occasion,  and  never  has.  there  been  gathered  together  so  many 


164  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

men  identified  with  the  welfare  of  Judaism.  In  opening  the  event, 
the  honored  guest  of  the  evening  was  escorted  to  the  platform  by 
that  other  beloved  son  of  Israel,  Jacob  H.  SchiflE,  who  occupies  so 
deep  an  affection  in  the  hearts  of  his  people,  and  who  said: 

"I  consider  it  no  small  honor,  and  I  appreciate  it  highly,  to  have 
been  called  upon  to  preside  here  this  evening.  Opportunities  are 
not  too  frequent  when  .one  is  privileged  to  publicly  honor  the  best 
of  his  clan  and  to  give  expression  on  behalf  of  an  entire  community 
of  its  respect  and  esteem  for  one  who  has  lived  in  its  midst  for  a 
generation,  and  whom  old  and  young  have  learned  to  love  and 
revere.  The  modesty  of  our  honored  guest  and  friend,  Mr.  Jesse 
Seligman,  is  so  proverbial,  that  I  shall  not  attempt  to  here  say  all 
that  is  due  to  him,  but  I  shall  rather  give  expression  to  the  feeling 
of  regret  which  I  am  certain  you  all  share  with  me,  that  for  a  con- 
siderable time  to  come  we  shall  have  to  miss  not  only  the  genial 
and  benign  countenance,  but  also  the  wise  counsel  and  co-opera- 
tion of  our  esteemed  friend,  in  whom  we  honor  the  foremost  of 
our  Jewish  community — nay,  I  may  say,  of  the  Hebrews  of 
America. 

"  Honored  by  the  best  of  the  nation  because  of  the  purity  of  his 
patriotism  and  his  loyalty  to  his  country,  respected  b}'  his  towns- 
men for  his  civic  virtues  and  public  services,  beloved  by  his 
co-religionists  because  of  his  warm  devotion  to  his  race,  whose  best 
interest  he  stands  ever  ready  to  serve  and  defend,  Jesse  Seligman 
is— we  proclaim  it  with  pride — the  truest  and  best  exponent  of  the 
type  of  a  man  and  a  Jew  whom  only  a  great  country  like  our  own 

can  produce — a  representative  Hebrew-American The 

ideals  for  our  children  to  look  up  to  and  imitate  are  men  of  the 
stamp  of  Jesse  Seligman,  our  guest  of  honor  this  evening.  I 
know  he  leaves  us  reluctantly,  for  his  greatest  joy  and  satisfaction 
has  ever  been  to  dwell  among  his  people.  But,  as  his  heart 
remains  with  us,  so  our  good  wishes  accompany  him  upon  the 
journey  he  is  about  to  enter.  May  it  bring  him  deserved  rest  and 
recreation ;  may  he  ere  long  be  able  to  return  to  us  full  of  renewed 
strength  and  vigor,  to  be  spared  many  years  yet  to  his  family,  to 
his  friends,  and  to  the  community,  of  which  he  is  so  useful  a 
member,  and  which,  in  honoring  him,  honors  itself." 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  takes  place 
on  Sunday,  when  suitable  action  concerning  Mr.  Seligman' s  death 
will  be  taken. 

The  remains  will  be  brought  on  to  New  York  and  interred,  after 
a  public  funeral  in  Temple  Emanu-El,  in  the  family  vault  at  Salem 
Fields  Cemetery. 

At  a  full  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Orphan  Asylum,  held 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  1 65 

Wednesday  night,  it  was  agreed  that  the  Trustees,   in  a  body, 
should  escort  the  remains  to  his  late  home  on  their  reaching  here. 

April  ^7,  i8g4. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  is  ncit  alone  a  serious  and  deep-felt 
blow  to  the  Jewish  community.  The  long,  detailed  and  sympa- 
thetic records  of  his  life  and  tributes  to  his  memory  that  appear  in 
all  the  public  prints  as  the  news  of  his  death  comes  from  Califor- 
nia, attest  in  a  convincing  manner  to  the  high  esteem  in  which  he 
was  generally  held,  and  the  exalted  place  which  he  occupied  in 
public  life,  without  ever  having  accepted  any  political  position. 

Though  he  left  New  York  a  few  days  ago  in  enfeebled  health 
and  no  longer  a  j-oung  man,  or  the  robust  man  that  he  was,  none 
was  prepared  for  the  sudden  tidings  of  the  low  condition  in  which 
he  was  in  on  his  arrival  at  Coronado,  and  the  rapidly  following 
report  of  his  death.  The  spirits  of  his  manj-  friends  likewise 
revived  by  a  rumor  that  the  reports  of  his  demise  were  premature, 
but  alas  !  they  were  only  too  quickly  confirmed. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  above  all  a  conspicuous  example  of  the  per- 
fect consistency  with  which  a  man  can  be  a  kindly,  patriotic 
American,  in  touch  and  sympathy  with  all  the  highest  aims  and 
noblest  aspirations  of  the  American  spirit,  and  yet  be  as  devotedly 
attached  and  manfully  loyal  to  the  Judaism  in  which  he  was  born 
and  reared  and  with  whose  ideals  he  was  in  devout  sympathy. 

The  public  spirit  of  Mr,  Seligman  was  a  broad-minded,  generous- 
hearted  interest  in  all  that  concerned  the  welfare  of  his  fellow-men. 
Ready  with  a  helping  hand  to  every  deserving  unfortunate  being 
whose  circumstances  did  not  just  fit  in  to  the  provisions  of  charit- 
able institutional  work,  he  was  a  devoted  student  of  the  social 
science  problems  of  our  times,  and  eagerly  anxious  for  the  devel- 
opment of  organized  charity,  along  the  lines  of  the  most  humane 
and  sympathetic  tenderness. 

Never  a  mother  watched  \\  ith  more  loving,  brooding  care  the 
delicate  offspring  in  her  own  household,  than  Jesse  Seligman  took 
to  his  heart  the  hundreds  of  boys  and  ^rls  who  secured  a  home  in 
the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum.  There  were  his  warmest  affections 
enshrined ;  although  his  help  and  counsel  were  ever  ready  and 
freely  given  for  the  support  and  up-building  of  every  worthy 
institution.  Posterity  need  have  no  more  just  conception  of  the 
man  than  that  which  may  be  formed  of  him  by  the  picture  of  the 
busy,  worried  man  of  great  affairs  calling  up  on  the  telephone  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Asylum  everv^  day  to  ask  after  the  welfare 
of  the  little  ones ;  the  little  ones  who  have  indeed  been  again 
bereft  of  a  parent  by  the  death  of  their  well-beloved  President  of 
the  Asylum, 


l66  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Maj'  4,  iSg4. 
The  host  of  p>eople  assembled  on  Wednesday  morning  in  and 
about  the  Temple  Emanu-El  to  attend  the  funeral  services  of  the 
lamented  communal  leader,  whose  loss  is  so  generally  mourned, 
testified  incontrovertibly  to  the  firm  hold  which  had  been  gained 
by  Jesse  Seligman  upon  the  esteem  and  affection  of  the  most 
widely  diverse  men  and  women,  with  interests  varied  and  discon- 
nected social,  political  and  religious  relations.  Those  who  were 
there  represented  nearly  all  the  walks  and  professions  of  life ; 
among  them  were  some  of  the  most  distinguished  men  and  women, 
who  in  their  peculiar  spheres  of  public  activity  occupy  a  large 
share  of  popular  interest  and  attention. 

If  the  secret  of  the  life  and  character  be  sought  of  a  man  who 
can  thus  appeal  to  the  respect  and  consideration  of  such  numbers 
of  earnest  people,  it  can  to  a  great  extent  be  found  in  the  tributes 
to  the  memory  of  the  departed  one,  which  have  come  to  us,  and 
which  we  publish  in  this  number  of  The  American  Hebrew, 
which  veritably  constitutes  a  memorial  service  to  the  worthy  work 
of  Jesse  Seligman ;  which  illustrates  conclusively  how  manifold 
and  many-sided  were  his  interests,  capacities  and  beneficence. 

That  he  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  the  financial  and  com- 
mercial world,  might  by  some  be  thought  to  be  one  of  those  things  to 
be  kept  in  the  background,  or  at  least  not  to  be  emphasized.  On 
the  contrary-,  we  deem  it  wise  and  right  to  place  in  the  foreground 
this  pregnant  fact  that  in  times  when  men  of  great  wealth  are 
subjected  to  the  keenest  scrutiny,  it  can  be  said  of  him  that  in  all 
things  he  was  an  honest,  upright  man.  Engaged  in  the  most 
important  gigantic  enterprises,  his  name  at  the  end  of  the  record 
is  as  pure  and  as  spotless  as  when  he  first  began  his  arduous  toil- 
ing in  early  youth. 

And  with  what  satisfaction  must  we,  his  brethren  in  faith, 
observe  with  what  unresei-ve  and  lack  of  qualification  the  thor- 
oughly American  patriotic  spirit  ever  manifested  by  Mr.  Seligman, 
as  recognized  by  those  who  have  had  the  most  complete  opportu- 
nities for  intimately  studying-  his  relations  with  the  Government ; 
his  unselfish  exercise  of  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of  citizen- 
.ship ;  his  loyalty  and  devotion  to  the  best  and  highest  interests  of 
the  country,  and  the  zeal  with  which  he  sacrificed  his  personal 
interests  in  his  anxiety  to  serve  the  Government  and  the  party 
with  which  he  was  identified. 

But  that  which  still  remains  the  distinguishing  trait  of  Jesse 
Seliginan- if  any  of  all  his  many  noble  characteristics  may  be 
said  to  be  more  prominent  than  the  others — is  the  philanthropic 
spirit  which  he  displayed.  This  was  not  confined  in  its  manifesta- 
tion to  the  generosity  with  which  he  gave  of  his  means  for  the 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  167 

support  of  everj'  worthy  charitable  purpose,  for  the  relief  of  all 
manner  of  distress.  It  was  still  this,  by  the  zeal  with  which  he 
threw  himself  into  every  movement  organized  for  the  public  weal; 
by  the  self-sacrifice  with  which  he  gave  his  personal  service,  his 
time,  his  thought,  his  energy,  to  the  development  of  our  commu- 
nal institutions. 

His  life,  indeed,  is  an  inspiration.  No  words  oould  so  effect- 
ually appeal  to  what  is  best  in  our  youth.  His  career,  and  the 
iionor  conferred  upon  him  by  those  whose  honor  is  worth  the 
having,  will,  we  are  confident,  serve  to  awaken  in  our  young  men 
the  ambition  to  emulate  the  character  and  the  deeds  of  Jesse  Selig- 
man  in  the  spirit  with  which  he  lived  his  life  well  rounded  out, 
with  nothing  in  it  for  others  to  regret,  for  those  who  love  him  te 
jook  back  upon  with  aught  but  pride  amid  their  tears,  and  naught 
but  affection  amid  tbeir  grief. 


Morning  A'^dvertiser,  April  2^,  i8g4. 

So  far  as  all  material  conditions  are  concerned,  the  late 
Mr.  Jesse  Seligman's  start  in  life  was  below  the  average.  His 
chief  endowment  was  energy  and  a  disposition  to  thrift.  With 
this  he  came  to  America,  ignorant  of  the  language  of  the  country- 
He  became  not  only  wealthy  and  influential,  but  he  gained  his 
^wealth  in  legitimate  ways,  without  oppressing  anybody,  and 
throughout  his  career  he  was  noted  for  his  liberality  and  his  pub- 
lic spirit. 

There  are  tens  of  thousands  of  such  men,  not  all  of  whom  have 
reached  the  same  prominence  or  acquired  as  mudh  money,  but 
who  have  risen  from  poverty  to  competence,  and  often  affluence, 
entirely  by  their  own  exertions. 

The  conditions  under  which  he  flourished  would  still  exist  but 
for  some  of  the  unreasonable  exactions  of  labor  organizations, 
and  but  for  the  unwholesome  doctrine  that  has  been  promulgated 
by  political  demagogues  that  labor  laas  no  fair  chance,  and  must 
look  to  legislatien  to  do  for  the  working-man  what  Mr.  Seligman 
and  tens  of  thousa.nds  of  others  have  done  for  themselves.  These 
•successful  men,  working  with  their  hands  and  spending  less  than 
their  small  earnings,  did  not  look  for  any  easy  road  to  success. 
Industry,  thrift  and  caution,  turning  a  deaf  ear  to  the  allurements 
•of  fleeting  pleasures  and  to  tlie  harangues  of  the  demagogues, 
comprise  all  the  secret  of  their  success. 

Except  so  far  as  men  have  allowed  themselves  to  become  the 
■subjects  of  unreasonable  restrictions  by  labor  organizations,  this 
path  to  success  is  still  open,  and  it  will  be  followed  b}^  other  thou- 
sands to  the  same  goal. 


1 68  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

May  J,  j8g4. 

Temple  Emanu-El,  at  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-third  Street,  was 
crowded  to  the  doors  yesterday  morning  when  funeral  services 
were  held  over  the  body  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman,  who  died 
Apiil  23  at  Coronado  Beach,  California.  Long  before  the  body 
of  the  dead  banker  reached  the  synagogue,  every  seat  in  the 
building  was  taken,  and  the  aisles  and  lobbies  were  crowded  to 
suffocation. 

At  ten  o'clock  the  bereaved  family  entered  the  synagogue,  and 
passed  down  the  centre  aisle  to  the  seats  directly  in  front  of  the 
altar.  The  mourners  included  Mrs.  Seligman,  the  widow  of  the 
banker,  and  their  sons,  Theodore,  Albert  and  Henry,  Mrs.  Emma 
Wasserman,  Misses  Alice  and  Madeline  Seligman,  Mrs.  Albert 
Seligman,  Mr.  and  ]\Irs.  J.  S.  Seligman,  Washington  Seligman, 
Mrs.  Theodore  Hellman,  Alfred  Seligman,  ^Ir.  and  Mrs.  DeWitt 
J.  Seligman,  David  L.  Einstein  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Bernheimer. 

The  coffin,  which  was  completely  hidden  beneath  a  mass  of 
violets  and  smilax,  was  borne  in  and  placed  upon  the  catafalque 
before  the  altar.  The  pall-bearers  took  seats  on  the  left  of  the 
centre  aisle.  The  following  is  the  list  of  those  who  were  invited 
to  officiate  in  this  capacity:  Seth  Low,  Cornelius  Bliss,  Oscar  S. 
Straus,  General  Horace  Porter,  Abram  S.  Hewitt,  Mayor  Thomas 
F.  Gilroy,  John  Wanamaker,  Carl  Schurz,  Colonel  J.  J.  McCook, 
Edwin  Einstein,  William  Walter  Phelp?,  Myer  Stern,  General  B. 
F.  Tracy,  William  M.  Evarts,  Edward  Lauterbach,  Myer  S. 
Isaacs,  Charles  Cramp,  Colonel  F.  D.  Grant,  Judge  John  J.  Dil- 
lon, Henry  Rice,  Emanuel  Lehman,  Louis  Gaus,  Colonel  W.  L. 
Strong,  Hyman  Blum,  J.  Hood  Wright  and  James  McCreery. 

The  altar  was  a  fragrant  bank  of  lilies  and  immortelles,  and 
was  surrounded  by  palms  and  potted  plants  in  profusion.  As  the 
coffin  was  borne  up  the  aisle  a  chorus  of  150  boys  from  the  Hebrew 
(Orphan  Asj4um  chanted  a  solemn  dirge,  and  the  same  chorus  also 
rendered  a  simple  but  impressive  musical  programme  during  the 
services.  Rabbis  Gottheil  and  Silverman  conducted  the  services. 
The  latter  delivered  a  long  address  in  which  he  spoke  of  the  phil- 
anthropy of  the  dead  man.  Dr.  Gottheil  followed  him  more  briefly 
in  an  address  which  dealt  with  the  private  life  and  the  beautiful 
character  of  Mr.  Seligman.  The  funeral  service  followed  and  then 
the  body  was  taken  to  Salem  Fields,  Cypress  Hills  Cemetery, 
where  it  was  placed  in  the  magnificent  vault  of  the  Seligmans.  A 
great  many  of  the  dead  philanthropist's  friends  followed  his  body 
to  the  grave. 

The  immense  throng  which  attended  the  services  in  the  syna- 
gogue was  notable  not  only  for  its  numbers  but  for  its  distinguished 
character.  Few  great  funerals  even  in  this  city  have  collected 
such  a  body  of  eminent  representative  men. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  169 

There  was  present  a  delegation  of  sixty  members  from  the 
Union  League  Club,  which  marched  in  double  file  from  the  club- 
house at  Fifth  Avenue  and  and  Thirty-ninth  Street  to  the  syna- 
gogue, led  by  General  Horace  Porter.  The  delegation  included 
Colonel  Joel  B.  Erhardt,  Wilham  H.  Webb,  Jacob  Wendell, 
General  C.  H.  T.  Collis,  S.  P.  Avery,  Salem  H.  Wales,  Elihu  Root, 
Dorman  B.  Eaton,  Mortimer  C.  Addoms,  C.  C.  Tiffany,  J.  Seaver 
Page,  Henry  C.  Yale,  John  Scott  Boyd,  Sigourney  W.  Fay,  A.  G. 
Hyde,  Richard  Butler,  Frederick  Taylor,  John  N.  Cilley,  John 
Sloane,  Colonel  D.  F.  Appleton,  O.  D.  Munn,  W.  T.  Schley  and 
others  hardly  less  distinguished. 

Officers  and  beneficiaries  of  the  many  charitable  and  benevolent 
organizations  with  which  Mr.  Seligman  was  connected  were  also 
present.  The  list  includes  the  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  the  Purim 
Association,  the  Montefiore  Home,  the  Order  of  B'ne  B'rith,  the 
Hebrew  Charities,  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  the  He- 
brew Sheltering  Guardian  Society,  the  Sanitarium  for  Hebrew 
Children,  and  many  others. 

In  the  temple  were  to  be  seen  the  representatives  of  most  of  the 
great  banking  houses — -Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co.,  Lazard  Freres, 
Ladenburg,  Thalman  &  Co.,  I.  &  S.  Wormser,  Knauth,  Nachod  & 
Kuhne,  Kuhn,  Loeb  &  Co.,  HoUgarten  &  Co.,  and  many  more. 

Schenectady  (N.  Y.)  Union,  April  25,  iSg^. 

The  late  Jesse  Seligman,  a  noted  New  York  banker,  began  life 
as  a  pack  peddler.     As  a  millionaire,  he  was  noted  for  his  charity. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  deceased  New  York  banker,  took  great  pride 
in  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  which  shelters  600  little  ones. 
Every  Sunday  Mr.  Seligman  made  it  a  point  to  visit  the  Institu- 
tion. He  was  its  President,  and  had  been  for  twenty  years  back- 
Mr.  Seligman  was  also  a  director  in  the  New  York  Association  for 
Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of 
Art  and  the  ]\Iuseum  of  Natural  History. 


Watkins  (N.  Y.)  Express,  April  26,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  a  native  of  Bavaria,  who  fifty-four  years  ago 
disembarked  as  a  steerage  passenger  from  a  sailing  vessel  at  Cas- 
tle Garden,  New  York,  with  a  keen  mind  and  an  indomitable 
determination  to  succeed  as  his  only  capital,  died  at  Coronado 
Beach,  Cal. ,  on  Monday  of  this  week  in  possession  of  a  fortune 
estimated  at  between  $20,000,000  and  $30,000,000.  The  career  of 
Jesse  Seligman,  in  so  far  as  it  bears  on  the  accumulation  of  wealth, 
reads  like  a  romance.     And  yet  in  this  land  of  great  resources  and 


170  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

tinlimited  opportunities  his  experience  has  been  dupUcated  by  A. 
T.  Stewart  and  others  to  whom  shrewdness,  enterprise  and  genius 
have  brought  millions  on  millions.  Jtsse  Seligman '  possessed 
charitable  and  philanthropic  instincts,  and  his  life  was  devoted 
quite  as  much  to  spending  money  as  to  accumulating  it.  The 
spirit  of  American  institutions  was  quickly  acquired  by  him,  and 
he  identified  himself  with  public  affairs,  realizing  in  a  much  larger 
degree  than  do  some  of  the  possessors  of  vast  wealth  that  he  owed 
certain  duties  to  the  Government  and  society.  Mr.  Seligman 
was  the  head  of  the  banking  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  &  Co.,  of 
New  York. 

Carlisle  (Pa.)  Volunteer,  April  2j,  r8g4. 
Jesse  Seligman,   the  famous  New  York  banker,    died  at   San 
Diego,  California,  on  Monday  morning.     He  had  gone  to  Califor- 
nia for  his  health  and  arrived  at  San  Diego  only  a  f e  «v  days  before 
his  death.     His  wife  and  daughter  were  with  him  when  he  died. 

Erie  (Pa.)  Ti.viES,  April  23,  i8g4~ 
Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  who  died  a  day  or  two  ago  in 
California,  was  a  prominent  and  most  admirable  representative 
•of  his  race  in  America.  From  the  most  humble  beginnings,  a 
friendless  boy  carrying  a  peddler's  pack,  he  rose  to  become  the 
head  of  one  of  the  greatest  banking  houses  in  the  world,  and  an 
unofficial  but  trusted  adviser  of  the  Government  in  some  of  its 
important  financial  operations.  Mr.  Seligman' s  career  was  an 
exemplification  of  the  opportunities  afforded  under  a  free  govern- 
ment to  the  most  lowly  of  its  citizens  to  attain  a  high  and  influen- 
tial J5f6  si  tion. 

Johnstown  (Pa.)  Tribune,  April  27,  18^4. 
Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  a  Bavarian  who  had  led  a 
remarkable  career  in  the  financial  world,  died  at  nine  o'clock  last 
Monday  morning,  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado,  Cal.,  of  pneumonia 
and  Bright's  disease.  Mr.  Seligman  came  to  this  country  in  1841, 
and  joined  three  brothers  who  had  left  their  Bavarian  home  pre- 
viously, at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  he  learned  to  speak  English. 
The  brothers  went  to  Mobile,  but  as  that  city  was  too  large  for 
their  small  capital,  they  finally  moved  to  Selma,  Ala.  They  were 
peddlers,  and  carried  their  own  packs.  Jesse  was  prosperous, 
and  when  only  fifteen  years  old  he  owned  his  own  store  and  em- 
ployed clerks.  By  constant  rises,  Mr.  Seligman  and  his  brother 
came  to  be  members  of  a  New  York  banking  firm,  established  in 
1862,  which  was  the  first  house  to  put  U.  S.  bonds  abroad.  He 
was  a  very  charitable  man,   and  several   years  ago  founded  a 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  171 

Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  in  New  York  City.  When  he  died,  he 
ranked  among  the  wealthiest  men  of  the  metropolis.  He  was  the 
close  friend  of  General  Grant  and  Henrj-  Ward  Beecher  and  a  firm 
supporter  of  the  republican  party. 

Long  Branch  (N.  J.)  Record,  April  2y,  18^4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  who  has  for  many  years 
been  a  summer  resident  of  this  place,  died  at  Coronado  Beach, 
Cal.,  Monday  morning,  of  Bright's  disease. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  condition  became  so  serious  two  weeks  ago  that 
his  family  decided  upon  the  trip  across  the  continent.  He  was. 
accompanied  by  his  wife  and  daughter.  He  had  contracted  pneu- 
monia on  the  way.  Mr.  Seligman  was  very  infirm  when  the 
Hotel  del  Coronado  was  reached,  but  his  condition  was  not  con- 
sidered dangerous  until  Sunday.  It  was  seen  then  that  a  crisis 
was  imminent.  Mr.  Seligman  grew  worse  during  the  night,  and 
expired  shortly  after  9.30  Monday  morning.  He  retained  con- 
sciousness until  the  last.  The  body  was  embalmed,  and  will  be 
held  to  await  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Seligman's  three  sons,  who  started 
from  the  East  by  a  special  train  for  San  Diego. 

The  Seligmans  have  continued  to  deal  in  Government  securities 
since  the  civil  war,  and  under  republican  administrations,  which. 
means  all  but  a  few  years  of  the  interval,,  have  been  the  recog- 
nized Government  bankers  abroad.  As  this  implies,  Jesse  Selig- 
man was  a  republican,  and  his  resignation  from  the  Union  League 
Club  a  year  ago,  with  the  reason  for  it,  was  the  occasion  of  poli- 
tical as  well  as  social  gossip.  He  had  been  a  member  for  twenty 
years,  having  served  as  a  vice-president  for  fourteen  years,  when 
his  son,  Theodore  Seligman,  was  nominated  for  membership.. 
Theodore  was  blackballed  solely  because  he  was  a  Hebrew,  at  a 
meeting  held  on  April  13  of  last  year.  Jesse  Seligman  at  once 
resigned  as  a  member  of  the  Club,  but  his  resignation  has  not 
yet  been  acted  upon,  so  that  he  was  still  technically  a  member. 

His  personal  wealth  is  estimated  at  $10,000,000.  That  of  the 
combined  banking  houses  is  probably  half  a  dozen  times  as  large. 
The  American  house  has  dealt  during  the  past  few  years  with. 
railways  on  a  scale  which  only  a  large  capital  could  command. . 

Greenwxch  (Conn.)  News,  April  s-j,  iSg4. 
The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  oca.urred' 
at  Coronado  Beach,  California,  on  Monday  morning.  The 
end  came  peacefully,  and  consciousness  was  retained  to  the 
last.  Mr.  Seligman  arrived  at  Coronado  last  Friday,  aecom-- 
panied  by  his  wife  and  two  daughters.  He  sank  steadily  during 
Sunday  night  and  until  the  end  came.     The  body  has  been  taken 


rya  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

to  an  undertaker  on  the  San  Diego  side  of  the  bay,  where  it  will 
be  embalmed  and  retained  until  the  arrival  of  his  three  sons,  who, 
it  is  said,  left  on  a  special  train  for  San  Diego.  When  they  arrive, 
the  body  will  be  sent  to  New  York. 

He  was  a  man  of  extreme  courtesy  and  dignity,  and  had  an  im- 
posing personal  appearance.  He  was  influential  in  all  great  finan- 
cial movements,  an  able  banker,  a  loyal  and  charitable  citizen, 
respected  by  all  classes  of  the  community  and  always  having  at 
heart  the  welfare  of  the  land  of  his  adoption. 

Bangor  (Me.)  Commercial,  April  2j,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  who  died  Monday,  at  Coronado 
Beach,  Cal.,  was  a  prominent  and  most  admirable  representative  of 
his  race  in  America.  From  the  most  humble  beginnings,  a  friend- 
less boy  carrying  a  peddler's  pack,  he  rose  to  become  the  head  of 
one  of  the  greatest  banking  houses  in  the  world,  and  an  unofficial 
but  trusted  adviser  of  the  Government  in  some  of  its  important 
financial  operations.  Mr.  Seligman's  career  was  an  exemplifica- 
tion of  the  opportunities  afforded  under  a  free  government  to  the 
most  lowly  of  its  citizens  to  attain  a  high  and  influential  position. 

April  26,  j8g4. 
It  is  common  talk  in  New  York  that  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman, 
the  great  banker,  was  hastened  by  the  blackballing  of  his  son  by 
the  Union  League  Club.  Mr.  Seligman,  the  senior,  had  for  years 
been  one  of  the  Club's  most  prominent  members  but  his  son,  a 
young  lawyer  of  exceptional  brilliancy,  was  blackballed  because 
he  was  a  Hebrew,  by  the  younger  element  of  the  Club.  The 
father's  health  began  to  fail  from  that  time  and  he  never  recovered 
frorh  the  slight  thus  put  upon  his  family. 

RoxBURY  (Mass.)  Gazette,  April  2S,  i8g4-. 
Jesse  Seligman,  the  famous  banker,  died  in  Coronado  Beach  on 
Monday.  He  was  a  Jew,  the  fourth  of  eight  brothers,  and  was 
born  in  Baiersdorf,  Bavaria,  in  1825.  He  came  to  this  country 
when  he  was  fifteen  years  old,  and  began  his  wonderful  financial 
career  as  a  pack  peddler. 

Boston  (Mass.)  Herald,  April  24,  i8g4. 

A  dispatch  from  San  Francisco  announces  the  death,  at  Coro- 
nado Beach,  this  morning,  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  great  banker. 

Jesse  Seligman's  confidence  in  the  ability  and  disposition  of  the 
American  people  to  meet  their  obligations  never  wavered.  Secre- 
tary Sherman  also  found  a  warm  advocate  of  his  theory  of  specie 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  1 73 

resumption  in  the  Seligman  Bros. ,  who  shared  with  him  a  belief 
in  its  easy  and  complete  success.  The  policy  of  the  firm  was 
liberal,  but  still  close  enough  to  insure  it  against  the  vicissitudes 
that  stranded  many  competitors.  The  memorable  "Black  Fri- 
day" panic,  which  proved  the  ruin  of  many  capitalists  in  New 
York,  left  the  house  over  which  Mr.  Seligman  presided  un- 
scathed. 

Of  his  ability  as  a  banker  an  eminent  contemporary  said:  "  I 
regard  Jesse  Seligman  as  among  the  ablest  financiers  of  Wall 
Street  and  America.  He  is  far-seeing  and  comprehensive,  cool- 
headed  and  conscious  of  his  own  ability.  He  has  been  remarkably 
successful;  in  fact,  he  has  made  a  business  of  success." 

The  house  promoted  the  Panama  Canal  project  and  the  system 
of  southern  railroads  extending  into  Mexico. 

April  2^,  i8g4. 
There  is  the  usual  variance  in  the  estimates  of  the  wealth  of 
the  latest  rich  man  to  die  in  New  York.  The  Sun  sets  the  late 
Jesse  Seligman's  fortune  at  $10,000,000,  while  the  Times  puts  it 
between  $20,000,000  and  $30,000,000.  These  are  the  two  extremes, 
and  the  other  papers  range  between  these  figures,  illustrating 
anew  the  fact  that  when  a  man's  wealth  gets  up  into  the  millions 
it  is  hard  to  figure  it  up  definitely,  especially  when  he  started  out 
in  business  with  not  a  penny  in  his  pocket. 

Boston  (Mass.)  Journal,  April  2-j.  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  banker  of  New  York,  died  this  morning  at 
Coronado  Beach. 

Latterly,  in  addition  to  an  immense  banking  and  exchange 
business,  Mr.  Seligman  had  become  identified  with  many  promi- 
nent commercial  enterprises  requiring  large  capital. 

Lowell  (Mass.)  Times,  April  ^7,  i8g4. 
In  an  editorial  on  David  Dudley  Field  and  Jesse  Seligman,  two 
wealthy,  widely  known  and  widely  respected,  though  widely  dif- 
fering Americans,  who  have  died,  the  New  York  Sun  points  out 
that  their  careers  were  typical;  that,  with  very  few  exceptions,  all 
the  successful  men  in  this  country  have  started  as  they  started. 
Nearly  all  the  prosperous  men  in  business,  and  most  of  those  in 
professions,  began  as  poor  boys.  From  this  fact  it  draws  the 
following  deductions,  which  are  particularly  apropos  at  the  pre- 
sent time,  and  worthy  the  attention  of  all:  "These  men  did  not 
proceed  on  the  theory  of  the  Coxey  tramps,  that  the  world  owed 
them  a  living,  but  that  if  they  were  to  have  a  living,  they  would 
have  to  make  it.     They  did  not  stand  gaping  at  the  clouds,  wait- 


174  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

ing  for  manna  to  fall  from  heaven  for  their  sustenance,  and  they 
did  not  spend  in  cursing  inevitable  social  conditions  the  time  and 
thought  and  energy  they  needed  to  employ  for  the  improvement 
of  their  own  condition." 

Lynn  (Mass.)  Transcritt,  April  2y,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  died  at  Coronado  Beach, 
California,  Monday  morning.  He  was  born  in  1825  in  Bavaria. 
He  came  to  this  country  in  1S40,  with  only  a  few  dollars  in  his 
pocket,  starting  as  a  peddler  and  earning  his  first  thousand  dollars 
in  that  way.  He  engaged  in  the  clothing  business  afterwards 
and  until  after  the  end  of  the  war,  supplying  clothing  for  the 
soldiers  under  contract  with  the  Government.  In  1S65  the  bank- 
ing business  was  started,  the  entire  capital  of  eight  brothers  being 
embarked  in  the  enterprise,  and  so  successful  were  they  that  none 
of  the  succeeding  panics  has  ever  shaken  them.  This  man  was  a 
great  help  to  many  of  the  Treasury  officials  by  his  advice  and 
counsel,  which  was  sought,  and  in  the  refunding  measures  of 
Secretary  Sherman  the  firm  subscribed  for  $20,000,000  of  the  four- 
per-cent.  bonds. 

Springfield  (Mass.)  Union,  April  2^,  18^4. 
Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  in  California  Monday,  was  one  of  the 
most  successful  bankers  of  the  world,  and  one  of  the  best  citizens 
of  this  countr}^.  He  was  exceedingly  charitable,  giving  freely 
and  intelligently,  and  never  forgetting  that  his  own  early  days 
were  passed  in  poverty. 

Providence  (R.  I.)  News,  April  26,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman's  fortune  was  estimated  at  between  $20,000,000 
and  $30,000,000,  and  up  to  the  time  of  his  departure  for  the  West, 
Mr.  Seligman  had  rarely  missed  a  day  at  his  office  in  the  Mills 
Building,  on  Broad  Street,  where  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  has 
made  its  quarters  ever  since  the  building  was  completed. 

Westerly  (R.  I.)  Sun,  April  2^,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman  began  life  a  penniless  boy  and  ended  it  a  mil- 
lionaire, and  all  along  his  path  his  beneficence  has  been  scattered 
with  a  lavish  hand. 

Little  Rock  (Ark.)  Gazette,  April  2-j,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  the  other  day  at  Coronado  Beach,  was 
one  of  the  best  known  and  most  public-spirited  bankers  in  the 
United  States.     He  came  to  this  country  fifty-four  years  ago,  and. 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  1 75 

when  he  first  landed  in  New  York  he  made  his  home  for  some 
time  at  a  hotel,  which  charged  him  onb/  one  dollar  a  week  for 
his  board  and  lodging.     He  leaves  a  fortune  valued  at  $30,000,000. 

Jacksonville  (Fla.)  Times,  Ap?'il  jo,  iSg4. 
The  late  Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  a  few  days  at  Coronado 
Beach,  California,  came  to  this  country  in  1840,  and  when  he 
landed  inquired  for  a  place  where  he  could  board  for  one  dollar  a 
week.  He  died  worth  $30,000,000.  Young  man,  if  you  follow  his 
example,  especially  about  the  one  dollar  a  week,  you  may  be  able 
to  do  the  same  thing. 

Augusta  (Ga.)  News,  April  24,  i8g4. 

It  is  noted  as  an  instructive  coincidence  that  the  two  most  dis- 
tinguished and  most  wealthy  men  who  have  died  in  New  York 
lately — David  Dudley  Field  and  Jesse  Seligman— both  came  to 
that  city  without  a  penny,  and  both  left  large  fortunes.  About  all 
the  prosperous  men  in  business  and  in  the  professions,  not  only 
in  New  York,  but  in  all  the  other  cities  of  the  country,  started  out 
in  the  same  way.     It  is  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception. 

Baltimore  (Md.)  American,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  who  went  to  San  Diego 
for  his  health  a  few  days  ago,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
daughter,  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado  this„morning. 

He  was  a  director  of  the  New  York  x^ssociation  for  Improving 
the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  and  the 
Museum  of  Natural  History.  He  donated  large  sums  of  money 
to  numerous  benevolent  and  charitable  institutions,  but  his  favor- 
ite one  was  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  he  was  Presi- 
dent for  over  twenty  years.  When  he  was  in  town  he  never 
missed  visiting  this  place  on  Sunday,  and  took  the  deepest  interest 
in  the  children  there,  and  when  out  of  the  city,  in  his  letters  and 
telegrams  he  always  asked  about  the  children. 

He  leaves  three  sons — Theodore,  Henry  and  Albert — and  three 
daughters — Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman  and  the  Misses  Alice  and 
Madeline. 

It  is  said  that  his  fortune  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  $10,000,000. 

April  2j. 

Jesse  Seligman  is  another  illustration  of  the  opportunities  of 
this  country.  Last  week  it  was  said  that  David  Dudley  Field 
had  arrived  in  New  York  with  a  Bible  and  ten  dollars,  and  had 
died  worth  a  million  and  with  the  firm  respect  of  the  world.     Mr. 


1-/6  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Seligman's  work  was  different  from  that  of  Mr.  Field,  but  he 
began  even  more  humbly,  and  from  a  small  retail  business  and 
various  enterprises  in  the  South  and  North  and  the  Pacific  Slope, 
he  built  up  with  his  brothers,  the  great  success  which  made  him 
one  of  the  richest  men  of  the  country.  He  did  much  good  with 
his  money,  and  he  leaves  a  name  which  will  be  remembered. 

Raleigh  (N.  C.)  Chronicle,  April  2j,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  Monday  last,  came  to  this  country'  in 
the  steerage  of  a  .sailing  vessel,  landing  at  Castle  Garden  on  July 
4,  1840.  In  an  address  delivered  in  1891  before  the  Board  of 
Directors  of  the  Hebrew  Oi-phan  Asylum  of  this  city,  of  which  he 
was  the  President,  Mr.  Seligman  gave  a  picturesque  description 
of  his  first  daj-'s  experience  on  American  soil. 

Jesse  Seligman  soon  became  a  well-knowm  figure  in  the  social 
and  political  as  well  as  the  business  life  of  New  York.  He  was  a 
most  consistent  republican,  and  he  was  suggested  a  few  years  ago 
as  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  Mayor  of  that  city.  He  was  a 
vice-president  of  the  Union  League  Club,  and  a  member  of  a 
number  of  the  prominent  clubs.  He  was  also  actively  connected 
with  the  charitable  organizations  of  the  city. 

With  his  wnfe  and  family,  Mr.  Seligman  lived  in  a  fine  house  at 
2  East  Forty-sixth  Street,  next  door  to  the  Windsor  Hotel.  His 
summer  home  was  for  years  at  Long  Branch,  where  he  was  a  neigh- 
bor of  General  Grant  while  the  latter  made  the  New  Jersey  resort 
his  headquarters  during  the  warm  seasons. 

Mr.  Seligman's  fortune  was  estimated  at  between  $20,000,000 
and  $30,000,000.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Hebrew  congregation 
of  the  Temple  Emanu-El.  His  family  consists,  besides  his  wife, 
of  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Up  to  the  time  of  his  departure  for  the  West,  Mr.  Seligman 
rarely  missed  a  day  at  his  ofl&ce  in  the  Mills  Building,  on  Broad 
Street,  where  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  has  made  its  quarters 
ever  since  the  building  was  completed. 

Chattanooga  (Tenn.)  Times,  April  2g,  18^4. 
Jesse  Seligman,  the  millionaire  New  York  and  London  banker, 
who  died  the  other  day,  suddenl3^  in  California,  began  life  as  a 
pack  peddler  in  Alabama,  his  headquarters  being  at  Selma.  He 
rose  to  opulence  and  great  influence,  solely  through  his  native 
talent  for  affairs,  and  was  noted  as  a  most  just  and  generous  man, 
and  when  he  became  rich,  he  did  not  forget  the  poor  class,  from 
whom  he  sprang.  He  had  expended  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  in  charity ;  and,  while  exerting  his  power  and  influence  in 
the  world's   finances,   he  found  time  to  dail)-  visit  the  Hebrew 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  I 77 

Orphan  Asylum  when  he  was  in  New  York.  Nor  did  he  confine 
his  attentions  to  charity  among  his  own  people,  but  always  held 
his  purse  open  for  worthy  relief  objects  among  all  races  and  reli- 
gions. That  he  was  a  man  of  commanding  mental  endowment  is 
shown  by  his  associations,  they  being  among  the  most  cultured 
and  elevated  men  of  the  great  metropolis,  while  his  intimate 
acquaintance  among  financiers,  literary  men  and  artists  of  the 
highest  grade  in  Europe  was  general.  He  was  a  specimen  of  what 
our  free  institutions  and  varied  avenues  of  business  will  enable  a 
poor  boy  to  become,  if  he  have  the  right  stuff  in  him. 

.  Wheeling  (W.  Va.)  Intelligencer,  April  26,  i8g4. 
Jesse  Seligfman,  the  New  York  banker,  who  died  in  California 
last  Monday,  came  to  this  country  a  poor  boy.  By  industry  and 
integritA^  he  became  the  head  of  a  great  banking  house  known  the 
world  over.  He  was  as  liberal  as  he  was  successful.  He  gave 
publicly  and  gave  privately  to  worth)'  objects.  He  was  one  of 
New  York's  best  citizens.  He  took  a  good  citizen's  interest  in 
politics,  and  he  was  a  thorough-going  republican. 

San  Francisco  (Cal.)  Call,  April  2^,  i8g4. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  should  not  be  suffered  to  pass 
without  a  tribute  to  his  worth  and  his  virtues.  Men  live  and  die, 
and  are  forgotten ;  but  the  lives  of  those  who  have  set  a  shining 
example  should  be  commemorated  for  the  sake  of  the  large  class 
of  young  men  who,  at  the  threshold  of  life,  are  looking  round  for 
a  path  to  tread. 

Like  many  another,  Mr.  Seligman  found  himself,  when  he 
entered  his  teens,  a  member  of  a  Bavarian  family,  which  was  poor, 
in  money  and  rich  in  children.  In  1841,  when  he  was  fourteen, 
he  emigrated  to  this  country  with  two  brothers,  and  after  floating 
through  more  than  one  Eastern  State,  he  joined  the  immigration 
to  California  in  1850.  He  had  acquired  some  means,  which  he 
had  invested  in  merchandise ;  this  he  placed  in  the  only  brick 
building  in  the  city,  preferring  to  pay  high  rent  instead  of  high 
premiums  of  insurance.  His  judgment  was  vindicated.  A  fire 
swept  the  store  of  his  rivals  in  business,  and  having  a  monopoly 
of  his  class  of  goods,  he  was  enabled  to  sell  them  at  his  own  price. 
This  was  the  foundation  of  his  fortune.  Some  time  afterward  he 
and  his  brothers  established  a  banking  house,  which  for  a  long 
time  was  prominent  among  our  financial  institutions.  The  Anglo- 
Caliiornian  Bank  was  inaugurated  at  a  later  period,  and  has 
always  taken  high  rank.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  realizing 
that  the  conflict  would  offer  opportunities  for  intelligent  financial 
operations,  he    and  his  brother   Joseph  founded  the   New  York 


U1 


178  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

house  of  J.  &  W,  Seligman.  Close  connections  were  established 
with  correspondents  at  London,  Paris  and  Frankfort,  and  at  the 
time  the  Governinent  began  to  float  its  bonds,  the  Seligmans  were 
prepared  to  do  business  in  competition  with  the  Rothschilds. 

Peculiar  circumstances  favored  them.  The  New  York  corres- 
pondent of  the  Rothschilds,  the  late  August  Belmont,  was  the 
chaiiTnan  of  the  National  Democratic  Committee,  and  was  not  in 
hearty  sympathy  with  the  cause  of  the  Union.  The  head  of  the 
house  of  Morgans — now  Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co.,  of  New  York,  and 
J.  S.  Morgan  &  Co.,  of  London — was  also  slow  to  believe  that  the 
Union  could  be  restored.  Duncan,  Sherman  &  Co.  lacked  the 
foresight  to  grasp  the  financial  opportunity.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  Seligmans  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Union  with  ardor,  and 
placed  their  means  and  their  facilities  at  Mr.  Chase's  service. 
They  were  rewarded  by  agencies  for  placing  Government  securi- 
ties, which  in  the  four  years  of  war  enabled  them  to  realize  a 
princely  fortune,  and  raised  their  house  to  the  level  of  the  great 
banking-houses  of  the  world,  with  a  credit  second  to  none.  What 
Jay  Cooke  might  have  become  if  he  had  been  properly  ballastedi 
they  became. 

The  two  brothers,  Joseph  and  Jesse,  became  more  than  rich 
bankers.  They  figured  among  the  foremost  citizens  of  New  York. 
They  became  active  members  of  the  republican  party.  Their 
money  was  freely  lavished  on  all  patriotic  enterjirises.  They  sub- 
scribed to  outfit  regiments  and  to  clothe  volunteers.  Their  names 
were  found  among  the  lists  of  vice-presidents  at  Union  meetings. 
When  Mr.  Chase  wanted  help  or  advice  he  never  went  to  them  in 
vain.  Their  sense  of  public  duty  survived  the  v\  ar,  and  on  ques- 
tions which  were  not  necessarily  political  their  counsel  was  con- 
stantly sought  and  freely  granted. 

Joseph  and  Jesse  Seligman  were  born  gentlemen.  Though  they 
.  were  the  sons  of  a  poor  farmer  in  Bavaria,  their  manners  had  the 
polish  of  men  of  the  world,  and  their  conduct  was  marked  by  a 
sense  of  high-bred  honor.  There  was  a  scene  one  night  in  the 
stormy  times  succeeding  the  war,  when  a  great  bank  trembled  on 
the  verge  of  failure.  Joseph  Seligman  was  one  of  the  directors, 
and  that  night  he  faced  a  pugnacious  throng  of  dealers,  whose 
temper  was  hot  and  whose  language  was  e.xcited.  He  never  lost 
his  suavity;  he  stood  to  lose  a  large  sum  if  the  bank  failed,  but 
his  serene  smile  never  left  his  lips;  he  accosted  bank  wreckers 
with  perfect  courtesy,  and  calmed  irate  creditors  with  a  merr\' 
jest. 

Jesse  was  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  men  in  New  York.  He 
was  a  contributor  to  and  director  of  many  charitable  institutions, 
but  his  pet  charity  was  an  ophthalmic  hospital,  which  was  sus- 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  I  79 

tained  by  himself  and  other  wealthy  Hebrews.  On  one  occasion, 
in  one  of  the  financial  typhoons  of  the  times  which  succeeded  the 
war,  he  was  at  a  meeting  to  devise  measures  of  relief,  and  was 
looked  up  to  for  guidance.  While  all  was  excitement,  he  pulled 
out  his  watch  and  observed:  "Gentlemen,  I  am  sorry,  but  I  am 
due  at  a  meeting  of  our  hospital ;  you  must  excuse  me."  Some 
one  asked  him  if  that  was  a  hospital  for  Jews?  "Sir,"  said  Mr. 
Seligman,  "when  a  sufferer  comes  to  us,  we  do  not  ask  him  what 
his  faith  is ;  we  only  ask  if  he  has  sore  eyes." 

Redlands  (Cal.)  Telegram,  April  28,  iSg^.. 
Jesse  Seligman,  of  the  banking  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Sehgman,  died 
Monday,  in  Coronado.  It  was  a  coincidence  that  he  should  return 
to  the  State  where  he  laid  the  foundation  of  his  great  fortune  to 
die.  Starting  in  life  as  a  peddler,  in  1849  he  brought  a  large 
stock  of  clothing  to  San  Francisco,  then  returned  to  New  York  in 
1857,  became  a  heavy  contractor  during  the  war,  and  in  1865  he 
established  the  great  bank,  in  which  seven  brothers  were  asso- 
ciated with  him. 

Trinidad  (Cal.)  Advertiser,  April  2j,  i8g4. 
Jesse  Seligman,  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers,  New  York  and 
London,  died  at  the  Hotel  Del  Coronado,  California,  Monday, 
from  pneumonia  and  Bright' s  disease.  Four  days  previous  to  his 
death  Mr.  Seligman,  with  his  wife  and  daughter,  passed  through 
here  for  Coronado.  His  condition  became  so  serious  on  his  arrival 
that  all  of  the  members  of  his  family  were  telegraphed  for,  but  he 
died  long  before  they  had  hardly  started. 

Chicago  (III.)  Inter-Ocean,  April  26,  iSg^. 

Henry  Seligman  and  others  of  the  family  left  Chicago,  Monday, 
at  10.30.  They  occupy  a  special  train,  which  has  the  right  of  way 
over  all  other  trains.  This  special  was  expected  to  have  made 
in  the  neighborhood  of  sixty  miles  an  hour  east  of  the  mountains, 
and  forty-five  miles  an  hour  through  New  Mexico. 

Engineer  Ritter  made  the  run  of  eighty-two  miles  from  La 
Junta  to  Trinidad  with  the  special  yesterday  afternoon  in  one 
hour  and  fifty  minutes — a  rate  of  about  forty-five  miles  an  hour. 
The  train  stopped  here  just  long  enough  to  change  engines,  which 
was  done  in  the  remarkably  short  time  of  about  one  mintite. 

The  late  Jesse  Seligman  suffered  a  severe  blow  in  the  house  of 
his  friends  in  1893,  when  his  son  Theodore  was  blackballed  in  the 
Union  League  Club  of  New  York.  The  affront  cut  deep,  and 
though  the  Club  refused  to  accept  the  father's  resignation,  the 


l8o  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

latter  never  set  foot  in  the  club-house  again.  The  young  man's 
rejection  appeared  to  the  outsider  a  petty  exhibition  of  anti- 
Semitic  spirit,  and  considering  that  the  young  man's  father  had 
been  fourteen  years  one  of  the  Club's  vice-presidents,  and  had 
conspicuously  served  his  country  as  a  financier  in  war-times,  such 
treatment  of  his  son  seemed  incompatible  with  the  patriotic  tradi- 
tions of  this  distinguished  Club.  The  young  man  was  supported 
for  membership  by  such  men  as  General  Porter,  C.  N.  Bliss,  Elihu 
Root,  Joseph  H.  Choate,  and  ex-Postmaster-General  James.  He 
was  opposed  by  the  younger  element,  the  so-called  cafe  crowd- 
Out  of  a  club  vote  of  i,6oo,  but  323  were  cast  on  this  issue,  and 
Theodore  Seligman  had  eighty-seven  against  him. 

April  2g. 

The  body  of  the  well-known  Hebrew  banker,  Jesse  Seligman, 
will  be  taken  through  the  city  to-day  on  its  waj^  from  California 
to  New  York.  It  will  reach  the  Lake  Shore  depot  at  three  o'clock' 
where  a  committee  of  Henry  Greenebaum,  Drs.  B.  Felsenthal  and 
Adolph  IVioses,  representing  the  Past  Presidents  of  the  B'ne  B'rith, 
will  act  as  a  temporary  escort  of  honor.  It  is  expected  that  the 
presidents  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  the  Jewish  Cleveland 
Orphan  Asylum,  the  Jewish  Home  for  Aged,  the  Jewish  Training 
School,  and  Sinai  Temple,  will  also  be  present. 

Chicago  (III.)  Herald,  April  26,  i8g4. 
The  fastest  run  ever  made  on  the  Sante  Fe  route  was  made  by 
the  special  train  chartered  by  the  sons  of  Jesse  Seligman,  of  New 
York,  who  are  on  their  way  to  California  for  their  father's  remains. 
The  train  left  Chicago  Monday  at  10  A.  M.  and  reached  Albu- 
querque at  9.48  P.  M.  Tuesday,  making  an  average  for  the  whole 
distance  of  forty-five  miles  an  hour.  This  includes  the  climb  up 
and  over  the  mountains.  In  western  Kansas  and  eastern  Colorado 
the  train  made  spurts  of  fifty-eight  miles  an  hour. 

April  JO. 

Although  Jesse  Seligman  resigned  from  the  Union  League  Club 
when  it  refused  to  elect  his  son  his  resignation  was  not  accepted. 
Mr.  Seligman,  however,  never  entered  the  Club  after  that  time. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  Union  League 
Club  held  last  week  this  action  was  taken : 

"  Resolved,  That  upon  the  time  and  place  of  the  funeral  of  the 
late  Jesse  Seligman  being  a-scertained  the  secretary  issue  a  general 
notice  of  the  same  to  the  members  of  the  Club,  with  request  that 
those  who  wish  to  attend  the  funeral  will  meet  in  the  club-house 
shortly  before  the  hour  and  proceed  in  a  body." 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  l8l 

Mr.  Seligman's  body  is  expected  to  arrive  here  Monday.  Mrs. 
Seligman  and  three  sons  and  the  daughters  left  San  Diego  late  on 
Thursday  night  on  a  special  train  consisting  of  a  locomotive  and 
one  car,  and  they  will  make  the  journey  to  the  Grand  Centra^ 
depot  in  a  little  less  than  four  days.  The  arrangements  for  the 
funeral  have  not  yet  been  completed.  There  will  be  private  ser- 
vices at  the  house,  followed  by  the  funeral  services  at  ten  o'clock 
on  Monday  morning  in  the  Temple  Emanu-El.  These  services 
will  be  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil. 

The  body  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  who  died 
in  California  last  week,  passed  through  Chicago  yesterday  en  route 
east.  The  funeral  party  came  by  a  Santa  Fe  special  train,  which 
left  Los  Angeles  at  4  P.  M.  last  Friday  and  arrived  here  at  5  P.  M. 
yesterday  afternoon.  Accompanying  the  remains  were  Mrs.  Jesse 
Seligman  and  her  six  children,  Henry,  Theodore,  Albert,  Alice 
and  Madeline  Seligman  and  Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman,  all  of  New 
York  City.  Captain  Henrjr  Stein,  who  accompanied  Mr.  Seligman 
to  Los  Vegas  on  the  journey  westward,  met  the  party  at  Fort 
Madison.  Iowa,  yesterday  morning. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  one  of  the  best  known  Hebrews  in  the  United 
States  in  charitable  work,  and  several  representative  Chicagoans 
met  the  train.  Henry  Greenebaum.  Adolph  Moses  and  Dr.  Fel- 
senthal  represented  the  past  presidents  of  B'ne  B'rith.  Abram 
Hart,  of  Chicago,  President  of  the  Cleveland  Orphan  Asylum,  and 
Isaac  Greensfelder,  President  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities  of 
Chicago,  accompanied  them.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Irving  J.  Bernheimer 
sent  a  floral  wreath  to  adorn  the  casket.  The  funeral  train  stopped 
here  only  long  enough  to  change  engines  and  to  permit  these 
Chicago  friends  to  extend  sympathy  to  the  family.  The  train  left 
at  5.30  o'clock  over  the  Lake  Shore  Road.  It  is  expected  to  reach 
New  York  at  eight  o'clock  this  evening. 

May  I. 

The  body  of  Jesse  Seligman  arrived  from  San  Diego,  Cal.,  at 
the  Grand  Central  Station,  on  a  .special  train,  at  7.10  o'clock 
to-night.  The  train  consisted  of  two  drawing-room  cars  and  a 
baggage  car.  Those  who  accompanied  the  body  were  Mrs.  Jesse 
Seligman,  Theodore  Seligman,  Henry  Seligman,  Mr.  and  Mrs- 
Albert  Seligman,  Miss  Alice  and  Miss  Madeline  Seligman,  and 
Mrs.  Edward  Wasserman.  The)'  ""ere  met  at  Albany  by  James 
Seligman,  Mrs.  Theodore  Hellman  and  Edward  Wasserman. 
Many  friends  were  at  the  Grand  Central  station. 

The  body  was  taken  to  the  Temple  Emanu-El,  Fifth  Avenu^ 
and  Forty-third  Street,  escorted  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Hebrew 


1 82  JESSE   SEUGMAN 

Orphan  Asylum,  and  afterward  to  the  house  at  2  East  Forty-sixth 
Street.  A  cast  of  the  dead  banker's  head  was  taken,  to  be  used 
as  a  model  for  the  statue  to  be  erected  in  the  grounds  of  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum.  Private  funeral  services  will  be  held  at 
the  house  at  nine  o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  followed  at  ten 
o'clock  by  public  services  at  the  Temple  Emanu-El. 

Chicago  (III.)  Record,  April  jo,  i8g4. 
Prominent  Hebrew  citizens  of  Chicago  were  at  the  Lake  Shore 
&  Michigan  Southern  depot  yesterday  afternoon  to  pay  their 
respects  to  the  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  who  died 
last  week  at  Coronado  Beach,  San  Diego,  Cal.  Mrs.  Seligman, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters,  accompanied  the  remains  East  in 
a  special  train  over  the  Atchison,  Topeka  &  Santa  Fe  road.  At 
Sixteenth  Street  the  body  was  transferred  to -a  train  on  the  Lake 
Shore  road. 

Chicago  (III.)  Tribune,  April  jo,  i8g4. 
Prominent  Hebrew  citizens  of  Chicago  were  at  the  Lake  Shore 
depot  yesterday  to  pay  their  respects  to  the  memory  of  Jesse 
Seligman,  of  New  York,  who  died  last  week  at  Coronado  Beach. 
Mrs.  Seligman,  three  sons  and  three  daughters,  accompanied  the 
remains  East  in  a  special  train  over  the  Santa  Fe.  At  Sixteenth 
Street  the  casket  was  transferred  to  a  train  on  the  Lake  Shore 
road.  Captain  Stern,  an  old  friend  of  the  family,  met  the  party 
at  Joliet,  and  at  the  Lake  Shore  depot,  where  the  train  arrived  at 
10.50  o'clock,  a  committee  of  Representative  Hebrews  was  in 
waiting.  They  were:  Abram  Hart,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  Henry 
Greenebaum,  Dr.  B.  Felsenthal,  Adolph  ]\Ioses,  Isaac  Greens- 
felder,  H.  F.  Hahn,  Henry  L.  Frank  and  Isaac  Bernheimer.  This 
committee  escorted  the  remains  as  far  as  .Sixteenth  Street,  when 
the  members  returned  to  the  city.  IMr.  Seligman's  funeral  will  be 
held  in  New  York  next  Wednesday  afternoon.  Resolutions  of 
condolence  will  be  forwarded  to  the  family  from  this  city. 

Chicago  (III.)  Times,  April  jo,  j8g4. 

To  pay  their  respects  to  the  memory  of  Jesse  Seligman  of  New 
York,  who  died  at  Coronado  Beach,  San  Diego,  California,  last 
week,  prominent  Hebrew  citizens  of  Chicago  gathered  at  the  Lake 
Shore  depot  yesterday  afternoon.  Mrs.  Seligman  three  sons  and 
three  daughters  accompanied  the  remains,  which  were  transferred 
from  the  Santa  Fe  to  the  Lake  Shore  at  Sixteenth  Street.  A  com- 
mittee met  the  train  and  escorted  the  remains.  The  funeral  will 
be  held  in  New  York  Wednesday. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  183 

Chicago  (III.)  Staats-Zeitung,  April  26,  i8g4. 
1)er  foebcn  oerftorbene  beuticf)  iubifdje  Diero  g)orter  ^iNontier  3effe  @ehg-- 
man  oerleugrete,  tro§  Der  tl^eilroetien  i^erengUfdiung  jeiner  ''.Uanien,  bodi 
jeme  (Sigenidjaft  al«  tn  S3at)eni  Rcborener  Seutjdjer  nimiat^.  Gr  iBor  in 
biejer  sBegieljung  immcrt)iu  Da«  (ScgentljeU  DcS  oor  eintgen  Satjreu  geftor- 
benen  gro^eu  beutfcf)  iii&ifdjeii  9?ero  ^Jjorter  JBautier^  ?tuguft  Selmont 
(Sdjouberg), 

Unb  itialjrenb  Setmont  eifiigft  gut  bemotratii'dien  ^^Partei  Ijielt,  Don  ber 
er  Tic^  audi  tjolje  ilemtei,  toie ;?.  53.  unter  ^rdfxbent  fierce  bag  beS  ®e= 
tanbten  in  CoHanb,  t)er(cf)affte,  unb  in  beren^orteiratl)  er  al«mebrjdt)rigfr 
S3orrt§er  be«  bemotrati(i)eu  9fationalauSfct)ufl'e3  eine  grofee  g^oUe  fptcltc, 
betl)attgte  geligmau  feinen  ^3olittfc^en  (Sifer  tnner^atb  ber  repubU!anijd)en 
^.partei,  o^ne  ieboc^  in  it)V  fiir  fic^  felbft  eine  ©teUung  |u  judien. 

aSa^renb  Selmont  in  ®eutfd)laub  Don  feinem  iL>ater  enie  gute  :Muefai(Dung 
genoffen  batte,  S)er|d)ante  fid)  ®eligman  eine  bebcutenbere  igilbung  lebigltd) 
bnrt^  figere  ifraft  in21merita.  ©cineGigenfdiaft  ate  gjcpublifaner  brad)te 
ibm  allerbingS  5?ortt)file  in  jetnem  33aufflefd)aft,  bod)  miJ3braud)te  er  bie= 
jelben  ntd)t. 

©eligman'g  langjdt)tige  polititd)e  ©egnetin,  bie  „yjeiB  3)or!er  Staat^- 
i^eitung",  roibmet  ibm  folgenben  fur^en,  aber  jebr  anerfennenben  ^Jadiruf: 
„1)er  Derfiorbene  (I.l)cf  tc8  -Banfljaufeg  3.  &  23.  Seligman  &  So.  ttjar 
ein  self-made  mau  im  beften  Siune  beg  SBortcg,  iDoruntev  roir  nic^t 
ita§  bie  ergielteu  materieUen  Srfotgc,  fonbern  namentUd)  and)  X^aii  t)er= 
fteljpn,  ba(3  er  unter  jd)reierigen   i^erbaltnitjen,  mit  bmen  er  anffinglid)  %•& 
tampfen  batte,  feinen  SStffenebrang  ju  bffriebigcn  ttufete  nub  bie  nbtljige 
energie  entroicfelte,  fid)  eineu  bot)cn  ©rab  tion  iBilbung  anjueignen.  Scfle 
©eligman'g  ^Bebeutung  im  bffentlic^eu  i'eben  beftanb  barin,  ^i^S^,  er  feit 
'3iugbrud)  bcgiBiivgertriegeg  ber  il3ertrauengmaun  republitani(d)er  Stbmini- 
ftratiouen   roar,   Don   benen   feine   ginansmo^regel    Don   3Sid)tig!eit  in 
Stngriff  genommen  rourbe,  o^ne  '^o.'^i,  jein  3iatt)  suDor  einge^olt  roorben 
roar.    Sui^  roar  er  ber  Sr^e,  rodder  amerifanijdie  S3onb8  auf  bem  euro= 
paifcften  iUiarfte  placirte.     9Jaturgemafe  rourbe  burd)  jene  Sejieljungen 
^err  ^eligman  ouc^  ju  einem  politifd)en  j^attor,  obne  jebod)  felbft  jemalg 
in  attioen  politifc^en  Dienft   getreten  ju  fein.     giir  poUtifd}e  9teform. 
beftrebungen  geigte  er  iBerftauDnig  unb  3ntereffe,  bebarrte  febod)  auf  bem 
Stanbpunft,  ba§  biefelben  iuuerbalb  ber  repubUtaniid)en  'iPartei  augge- 
fut)rt  roerbfn  fbnnten  unb  miiBten.      Siffe  ''^Jartet  Derltert  mit  ibm  ein 
^od)angefet)eneg  -JJiitglieb  unb  cine  roertf)DoIIe  ©tiitje." 

golgenbe«  Sob  mod)ten  roir  nod)  beifiigen:  SSd^renb  Selmont  aug 
gefeUld)aftUcften  fRiicfftd)ten,  unb  lebiglid)  aug  jolc^en,  gum  S{)nftpntl)um 
iibertrat,  ijielt  Seligmau  treu  an  ber  9teIigion  feiner  25dter  feft,  o^ne 
beg^alb  einfeitig  ju  roerben.  J^reigcbig  unterftii^te  er  loblic^e  Scftrcbungen 
Don  3uben,  aber  auc^  Don  3Ud)t>3uben. 


1 84  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

Crawfordville  (Ind.)  Star,  April  27,  iSg4. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman.  the  New  York  banker,  occurred 
Monday  morning,  a  little  after  six  o'clock.  The  end  came 
peacefully,  and  consciousness  was  retained  to  the  last.  Mr.  Selig- 
man came  to  Coronado,  Cal. ,  last  Friday,  accompanied  b}'  his  wife 
and  two  daughters.  He  had  been  conscious  for  some  time  that 
he  was  then  in  a  critical  condition,  and  he  hoped  the  quiet  of  the 
place  and  the  mild  climate  would  restore  his  health.  He  expressed 
himself  as  hopeful  when  he  came  that  the  change  would  benefit 
him,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  that  his  expectations  were  well 
grounded.  Shortly  afterward,  however,  his  condition  became 
serious,  and  it  was  evident  Tuesday  that  a  crisis  was  imminent. 
His  immediate  family  was  notified  to  prepare  for  the  worst.  He 
sank  steadily  during  Sunday  night  and  tmtil  the  end  came.  The 
body  has  been  taken  to  an  undertaker  on  the  San  Diego  side  of 
the  bay,  where  it  will  be  embalmed  and  remain  until  the  arrival 
of  his  three  sons,  who,  it  is  said,  left  Monday  on  a  special  train  for 
San  Diego.  When  they  arrive  the  body  will  be  sent  to  New  York. 
The  local  physicians  who  attended  Mr.  Seligman  say  Bright's 
disease  caused  his  death.  They  declare  further  that  his  ailment 
was  not  properly  diagnosed  in  New  York,  and  that  his  treatment 
was  of  no  benefit.  He  was  suppo.sed  to  be  suffering  trom  pneu- 
monia when  he  came. 

Indianapolis  (Ind.)  News,  April  28,  jSg4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  &  Co.,  bankers,  New  York 
and  London,  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado,  at  9  A.  M.  to-day, 
from  pneumonia  and  Bright's  disease.  He  came  here  four  daj's 
ago,  direct  from  New  York,  with  his  wife  and  daughter.  His 
condition  had  become  so  serious  on  his  arrival  that  all  the  members 
of  his  family  were  telegraphed  for,  but  he  died  before  their  arrival. 

Mr.  Seligman's  wealth  has  been,  to  a  great  extent,  a  means  to  a 
noble  end.  He  was  an  arduous  laborer  in  the  cause  of  charity ;  he 
was  closely  identified  with  a  number  of  public  charities,  one  of 
his  pets  being  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asyhim,  of  which  he  was  one 
of  the  founders,  and  over  whose  board  of  managers  he  presided. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  married  at  Munich,  Bavaria,  in  1854,  to  Miss 
Henrietta  Hillman,  of  that  city,  a  highly  educated  woman.  They 
had  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Without  being  agressive  or  obtrusive  on  the  subject,  Mr.  Selig- 
man was  always  an  earnest  upholder  of  the  tenets  of  Judaism,  and 
he  was  closely  identified  with  its  charities  and  the  Temple  Emanu- 
El.  His  genius  as  a  financier  won  him  the  admiration  of  the 
commercial  world,  but  a  higher  place,  that  in  the  hearts  of  the 
people,  he  secured  by  his  broad  philanthropy. 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  185 

Fort  Scott  (Kan.)  Monitor,  April  28,  i8g4. 
Jesse  Seligman  of  New  York,  who  died  the  other  day,  came  to 
the  United  States  in  a  sailing  vessel  in  1840  from  Baiersdorf, 
Bavaria.  His  first  effort  upon  landing  was  to  find  "  a  good  board- 
ing house  for  one  dollar  per  week."  His  fortune  when  he  died 
was  estimated  at  $30,000,000. 


Kansas  City  (Mo.)  Star,  April  27,  it 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  revives  the  particulars  of  his 
family  history.  He  was  the  fourth  of  eight  brothers  born  in 
Bavaria.  In  1838  an  elder  brother,  Joseph,  came  to  America,  and 
became  cashier  of  a  bank  in  Pennsylvania.  He  sent  for  three 
brothers,  including  Jesse,  who  went  into  business  as  a  peddler. 
In  1865  the  banking  house  of  Seligman  was  established,  in  which 
all  of  the  eight  brothers  became  interested.  Thus  was  illustrated 
one  of  the  strongest  traits  of  the  Jewish  character— the  disposition 
to  stand  together  in  families.  The  first  brother  in  America  paid 
the  passage  of  three  of  his  younger  brothers  to  the  land  of  pro- 
mise. The  brothers  acted  on  the  principle  of  "  one  for  all  and  all 
for  one,"  with  the  result  that  in  less  than  thirty  years  from  the 
beginning  with  nothing  they  established  one  of  the  great  banking 
firms  of  the  world. 

Stillwater  (Minn.)  Messenger,  April  28,  i8g4. 
Jesse  Seligman,  the  great  New  York  banker,  died  at  Coronado, 
California,  at  nine  o'clock,  April  23.  He  was  born  in  1827  in 
Bavaria;  came  to  New  York  in  '37,  a  boy  peddler.  His  brother 
Joseph  started  a  store  and  Jesse  and  another  brother  hawked  his 
goods  about  the  country.  He  started  a  store  for  himself  at  the 
age  of  fifteen  at  Eutaw  and  later  established  a  big  mercantile 
house  in  San  Francisco,  California.  The  eldest  brother,  Joseph, 
established  a  banking  house  in  Europe  in  '57,  while  Jesse  estab- 
lished a  bank  in  New  York.  These  houses  have  done  more  to 
establish  the  United  States  credit  than  any  other  banking  houses 
in  the  country,  having  issued  the  four-per-cent.  bonds.  He  died 
worth  $10,000,000. 

St.  Paul  (Minn.)  Globe,  April  2j,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman  landed  at  New  York  July  6,  1840.  All  his 
belongings  were  in  a  small  wooden  box,  the  usual  companion  of  a 
steerage  passenger.  His  fortune  of  $20,000,000  was  largely  made 
in  the  clothing  business  during  the  war.  The  eight  Seligman 
brothers  all  engaged  in  the  same  business,  and  all  had  the  genius 
of  fortune-making.     Their  banking  business  was  begun  in  1864- 


l86  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

This  country  has  witnessed  but  few  instances  of  such  success,  nor 
any  parallels  of  note,  unattended  with  extraordinary  advantages, 
such  as  the  histories  of  a  number  of  wealthy  families  reveal. 

Helena  (Mont.)  Independent,  April  jo,  iSg4. 

The  Independent  contained  the  other  day  a  notice  of  the  death 
of  Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  father  of  A.  J.  Seligman,  of  this 
city,  at  Coronado  Beach,  California. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  renowned  for  his  benevolence.  He  had  been 
President  for  twenty  years  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  which 
opened  with  fourteen  inmates  and  now  contains  600,  and  he  con- 
tributed largely  to  its  support.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New 
York  Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  of  the 
Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  and  of  the  Museum  of  Natural 
History.     He  lived  at  2  East  Fort^-sixth  Street. 

His  personal  wealth  is  estimated  at  $10,000,000.  That  of  the 
combined  banking  houses  is  probably  half  a  dozen  times  as  large. 
The  American  house  has  dealt  during  the  last  few  years  with  rail- 
ways on  a  scale  which  only  a  large  capital  could  command. 

Mr.  Seligman  left  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  sons 
are  Theodore,  a  lawyer;  Henry,  who  is  associated  in  the  Broad 
Street  house,  and  Albert,  who  is  engaged  in  mining  in  Montana. 
One  of  the  daughters  is  Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman.  The  other  two 
are  unmarried. 

Omaha  (Neh.)  Bee,  April  2g,  iSg4. 
Jesse  Seligman,  the  w-ealthy  New  York  banker,  who  died  last 
week,  w^as  one  of  those  self-made  men  whose  careers  are  an  inspi- 
ration to  the  ambitious  youth  who  begins  life  in  America,  and  to 
the  energetic  immigrant  who  seeks  to  better  his  condition  by 
coming  to  this  countr\'.  Born  in  Bavaria,  he  followed  his  elder 
brother  to  this  country,  and  started  to  carve  his  fortune  with  a 
peddler's  pack  on  his  back.  His  early  efforts  in  business  were 
interrupted  by  the  rush  to  the  gold-fields  in  1S49,  when  he  hastened 
to  San  Francisco,  there  to  engage  in  the  mercantile  trade.  In  a 
short  time  he  amassed  a  considerable  fortune,  and  returning  to 
the  East,  took  up  the  clothing  business  in  partnership  with  his 
brothers.  After  the  war  they  transformed  the  fimi  into  a  banking 
house,  and  w'ere  active  in  assisting  the  Government  to  float  the 
immense  loans,  funding  its  huge  debt.  Mr.  Seligman  was  an  inti- 
mate friend  and  adviser  of  President  Grant  upon  questions  of 
financial  policy,  and  did  more  than  any  other  man  to  help  Secre- 
tary vShemian  carry  through  his  resumption  policy  successfully. 
His  patriotic  faith  in  the  credit  of  the  Government  was  last  shown 
in    connection    with    the    recent    $50,000,000   loan,    to  which   he 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  187 

subscribed  for  a  large  share.  Mr.  Seligman's  republicanism  was 
from  the  first  staunch  and  firm,  and  he  was  always  a  liberal  and 
outspoken  supporter  of  republican  principles. 

Cincinnati  (Ohio)  Times-Star,  April  26,  i8g4. 
Jesse  Seligman,  the  well-known  New  York  banker,  who  has  just 
died  in  California,  was  better  entitled  to  the  name,  '-Napoleon  of 
Finance,"  than  Mr.  Ives,  the  man  who  received  it,  and  who  has 
just  died  in  North  Carolina.  Mr.  Seligman  arrived  in  New  York 
in  1840  as  a  steerage  passenger,  practically  without  friends  or 
money,  yet  he  died  worth  $20,000,000,  acquired  by  legitimate 
business  methods,  and  in  addition  to  large  public  and  private 
benefactions.  Mr.  Ives  also  began  with  nothing,  and  made  large 
fortunes  more  rapidly,  but  by  wholly  different  methods  and  with 
different  results.  The  example  of  the  two  financiers  shows  that 
opportunities  for  monej'-making  still  exist  in  this  country,  pro- 
vided a  man  has  the  capacity  to  take  advantage  of  them.  It  also 
shows  that  legitimate  methods  of  business  are  in  the  long  run  the 
most  successful. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  well-known  New  York  banker 
and  financier,  recalls  the  fact  that  it  was  Jesse  Seligman  who 
placed  the  first  United  States  bonds  in  European  markets,  and, 
during  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion,  was  the  confidential  adviser 
of  this  Government  in  financial  matters. 

Albany  (N.  Y.)  Journal,  April  24,  i8g4. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  will  cause  general  and  sincere 
sorrow  on  the  part  of  all  who  knew  the  character  of  the  man,  the 
liberality  of  his  ^news,  and  the  generosity,  although  withal  the 
modesty,  with  which  he  dispensed  the  fortune  which  was  his  share 
in  this  world's  goods. 

There  could  be  no  higher  tribute  to  American  institutions  than 
the  rise  to  wealth  and  fame  of  the  poor  steerage  passenger  Avho 
disembarked  from  a  sailing  vessel  at  Castle  Garden  nearly  fifty- 
four  years  ago.  He  reached  the  shores  of  the  United  States  through 
the  assistance  of  a  brother  who  had  preceded  him— his  goods  and 
chattels  contained  within  the  narrow  confines  of  a  wooden  box, 
and  his  only  capital  a  keen  mind  and  an  indomitable  determina- 
tion to  succeed.  He  died  at  Coronado  Beach,  Cal.,  yesterday,  in 
the  possession  of  a  fortune  estimated  at  between  $20,000,000  and 
$30,000,000. 

The  career  of  Jesse  Seligman,  in  so  far  as  it  bears  on  the  accu- 
mulation of  wealth,  reads  like  a  romance.  And  yet  in  this  land 
of  great  resources  and  unlimited  opportunities,  the  experience  of 


1 88  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Jesse  Seligraan  has  been  duplicated  by  A.  T.  Stewart  and  others, 
to  whom  shrewdness,  enterprise  and  genius  have  brought  millions 
on  millions. 

Jesse  Seligman's  life,  however,  by  reason  of  his  charitable  and 
philanthropic  instincts,  was  devoted  quite  as  much  to  spending 
money  as  to  accumulating  it  His  mind  was  too  broad  to  be 
absorbed  in  the  chase  for  the  golden  butterfly.  He  quickly 
acquired  the  spirit  of  American  institutions  and  realized  that  he 
owed  certain  duties  to  government  and  society.  He  identified 
himself  with  public  affairs  in  San  Francisco  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Vigilants  who  suppressed  the  disorderly  element  and  of  the 
famous  Committee  of  Twenty-One  that  reorganized  and  reformed 
the  municipal  government.  He  was  one  of  the  first  to  respond  to 
the  needs  of  the  federal  government  in  the  dark  days  of  iS6i,  and 
assisted  in  raising  the  financial  sinews  with  which  the  war  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union  was  begun.  He  took  a  proper  interest 
in  political  affairs  and  was  an  active  and  unselfish  republican,  who 
was  repeatedly  honored  by  his  party  in  New  York  City  and  the 
State. 

The  poor  Bavarian  immigrant  of  1840  became  a  sterling  Ameri- 
can, not  by  reason  of  birth  and  antecedents,  but  through  the 
display  of  qualities  which  are  essentially  and  pre-eminently  Amer- 
ican. His  career  can  furnish  lessons  in  Amei-icanism,  citizenship 
and  manhood  to  many  a  native  whose  ancestry  dates  back  to  the 
Mayfloiuer  and  Plymouth  Rock. 

Bltfalo  (N.  Y.)  Courier,  April  24,  iSg4. 

By  the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  New  York  loses  one  of  its 
ablest  financiers— a  man  long  prominent  and  influential  in  the 
financial  life  of  the  city. 

May  6. 
The  late  Jesse  Seligman  was  a  warm  personal  friend  of  General 
Grant.  At  the  end  of  the  Donelson  and  Fort  McHenry  fights, 
Seligman  said  to  his  Wall  Street  friends:  "I  know  him;  I  knew 
him  when  he  was  a  young  officer.  If  he  is  not  killed  or  disabled 
in  battle,  he  will  suppress  the  rebellion  in  the  West  within  a  year-, 
if  I  am  any  judge  of  men." 

Buffalo  (N.  Y.)  Times,  April  24,  iSg4. 
The  grim   monster  removed  two   men  of  national  reputation 
yesterday.     Jesse  Seligman  was  known  as  a  banker  of  command- 
ing influence  in  the  metropolis,   and  Michael  F.   Boland  as  an 
Irish-American,  who  had  taken  an  active  part  in  the  efforts  of  his 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  189 

people  to  obtain  something  of  right  and  justice  for  the  "land  of 
smiles  and  tears." 

]\IiDDLETowN  (N.  Y.)  Argus,  Apfzl  24,  iSg4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  who  died  yesterday,  at 
Coronado,  California,  came  to  this  countr}-  from  Bavaria  and  by 
his  own  industiy  and  business  tact  and  foresight  accumulated  a 
large  fortune.  He  was  always  just,  tolerant  and  generous,  giving 
freely  of  his  wealth  to  any  cause  that  he  thought  worthy.  As 
President  for  twenty  years  of  the  New  York  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum,  which  he  founded,  to  the  support  of  which  he  gave 
hundreds  of  thousands,  he  saved  from  wretchedness  and  want 
hundreds  of  helpless  little  ones,  and  in  many  other  ways  he  did 
what  he  could  to  benefit  and  elevate  humanity.  The  world  is 
better  because  Jesse  Seligman  lived  in  it,  and  greater  praise  than 
this  can  be  written  of  no  man. 

MiDDLETOWN  (N.  Y.)  TiMES,   April  24,  i8g4. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  occurred 
yesterday,  at  Coronado  Beach,  Cal.  The  end  came  peacefully, 
and  consciousness  was  retained  to  the  last.  Mr.  Seligman  went 
to  Coronado  last  Friday,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two  daugh- 
ters. He  sank  steadily  during  Sunday  night  and  until  the  end 
came.  The  body  has  been  taken  to  an  undertaker  on  the  San 
Diego  side  of  the  bay,  where  it  will  be  embalmed  and  retained 
until  the  arrival  of  his  three  sons,  who,  it  is  said,  left  on  a  special 
train  for  San  Diego.  When  they  arrive,  the  body  will  be  sent  to 
New  York. 

He  was  a  man  of  extreme  courtesy  and  dignity,  and  had  an 
imposing  personal  appearance.  He  was  influential  in  all  great 
financial  movements,  an  able  banker,  a  loyal  and  charitable  citi- 
zen, respected  by  all  classes  of  the  community,  and  always  having 
at  heart  the  welfare  of  the  land  of  his  adoption.  He  leaves  three 
sons — Theodore,  Henry  and  Albert — and  three  daughters — Mrs. 
Emma  Wasserman  and  the  Misses  Alice  and  Madeline.  It  is  said 
that  his  fortune  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  $10,000,000. 

Newburgh  (N.  Y.)  News,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers,  of 
New  York  and  London,  died  at  Coronado  Beach,  California, 
yesterday  morning. 

He  had  been  a  sufferer  from  Bright' s  disease  for  some  time, 
although  the  physicians  in  California  say  the  trouble  was  diagnosed 
differently  in  New  York.  His  condition  became  so  serious  two 
weeks  ago  that  his  family  decided  upon  the  trip  across  the  conti- 
nent, hoping  to  baffle  the  disease. 


IQO  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

Mr.  Scligman  did  not  improve  the  first  two  days  out  from  New 
York,  and  last  Tuesday,  when  Topeka,  Kan.,  was  reached,  it  was 
deemed  best  by  the  attending  physician?  to  side-track  his  private 
car  for  a  time,  and  in  this  manner  give  the  patient  absolute  rest. 
After  a  stopover  of  one  day,  the  journey  was  taken  up,  the  patient 
being  apparently  refreshed  by  the  rest.  The  improvement  did 
not  continue,  however,  and  as  he  neared  the  coast  Mr.  Seligman's 
condition  was  causing  his  family  considerable  alarm. 

He  had  contracted  pneumonia  en  route,  and  this,  in  adition  to 
his  other  trouble,  made  it  apparent  to  those  near  him  that  he  was 
in  a  serious  condition.  He  was  very  infirm  when  the  Hotel  del 
Coronado  was  reached,  but  he  was  not  considered  to  be  in  imme- 
diate danger  until  Sunday.  It  was  seen  then  that  a  crisis  was 
imminent  and  his  physician  gave  out  that  the  coming  twenty-four 
hours  would  determine  the  matter  of  life  or  death.  The  wife 
and  daughter  became  greatly  alarmed  and  immediately  summoned 
by  telegraph  all  the  members  of  the  family.  ^Ir.  Seligman  grew 
worse  during  the  night.  He  expired  at  about  g.  30  yesterday  morn- 
ing. 

With  his  wife  and  family,  Mr.  Seligman  lived  in  a  fine  house  at 
2  East  Forty-sixth  Street,  next  door  to  the  Windsor  Hotel.  His 
summer  home  was  for  years  at  Long  Branch,  where  he  was  a 
neighbor  of  General  Grant,  while  the  latter  made  the  New  Jersey 
resort  his  headquarters  during  the  warm  seasons. 

Mr.  Seligman's  fortune  was  estimated  at  between  $2o,'ooo,ooo 
and  $30,000,000.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Hebrew  congregation 
of  the  Temple  Emanu-El.  His  family  consists,  besides  his  wife, 
of  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Up  to  the  time  of  his  departure  for  the  West,  Mr.  Seligman 
rarely  missed  a  day  at  his  office  in  the  Mills  Building  on  Bi-oad 
Street,  where  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  has  made  its  quarters 
ever  since  the  building  was  completed. 

Rochester  (N.  Y.)  Herald,  April  24,  iSg4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers,  New  York  and 
London,  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado  from  pneumonia  and 
Bright's  disease.  He  came  there  four  days  ago,  direct  from 
New  York,  with  his  wife  and  daughter.  His  condition  became  so 
serious  after  his  arrival  that  the  other  members  of  his  family  were 
telegraphed  for,  but  he  died  before  their  arrival. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  born  in  1827,  in  a  little  village  in  Bavaria, 
and  was  one  of  a  family  of  eight  brothers  and  three  sisters.  His 
parents  were  poor  and  the  children  had  to  make  their  way  in  the 
world.  The  house  where  he  and  all  his  brothers  and  sisters  were 
born,  has  been  long  since  turned  into  an  eleemosynary  institution. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  191 

or  rather  donated  to  the  poor  in  the  village.  In  the  village  grave- 
yard side  by  side,  lie  buried  the  great-great-great-grandfathers 
and  mothers  of  the  Seligmans  for  the  past  200  years.  That  little 
cemetery  in  the  Bavarian  village  is  well  kept,  and  tombstones  of 
fine  material  mark  the  resting  place  of  Jesse  Seligman's  ancestors, 
When  young  Seligman  grew  up  he  attended  the  village  school, 
and  at  the  age  of  twelve  he  went  to  the  gymnasium  at  Erlanger, 
preparatory  to  entering  the  university  in  that  city.  While  he  was 
dreaming  of  winning  prizes  in  Latin  and  Greek  when  he  entered 
the  university,  his  anticipations  and  ambitions  in  that  line  were 
suddenly  nipped  in  the  bud.  A  new  field  opened  to  him,  and  he 
saw  the  El  Dorado  which  Pizarro  and  Cortez  crossed  the  ocean  to 
fight  for,  but  never  to  obtain.  His  older  brothers  were  in  Amer- 
ica, and  in  May,  1S41,  he  received  a  letter  from  them,  asking  him 
to  join  them.  He  shut  his  books,  bade  his  playmates  go;jd-by, 
and  hurried  to  Bremen  to  start  for  America. 

During  the  war  Mr.  Seligman  was  a  staunch  Union  man,  and 
supported  the  United  States  Government.  No  native-born  citizen 
could  have  been  more  patriotic.  In  fact,  his  banking  firm  was  the 
first  to  place  United  States  Government  bonds  in  Europe.  It  was 
a  financial  move  that  made  the  firm  of  Seligman  Brothers  famous, 
and  helped  to  sustain  the  credit  of  the  Government.  The  bank 
handled  a  great  deal  of  business  for  the  United  States,  and  was 
connected  with  ever^'  syndicate  that  placed  United  States  bonds. 
AVhen  Senator  John  Sherman  w^as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  the 
Seligmans  helped  to  place  the  four-per-cent.  bonds.  Too  much 
stress  cannot  be  laid  upon  the  aid  the  Seligmans  gave  to  the 
United  States  Government  during  the  great  civil  war.  They 
showed  by  their  acts  that  they  were  opposed  to  rebellion,  and 
believed  in  the  Union  and  its  sacred  cause.  From  the  first  they 
never  faltered,  but  at  once  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and 
publicly  signified  their  willingness  to  help  any  and  all  means  in 
their  power  to  overthrow  the  Confederate  States.  Jesse  Seligman 
was  especially  active  and  pronounced  in  his  opposition  to  rebel- 
lion. At  that  time  England  was  disposed  to  be  cold,  and  stood 
aloof  to  watch  the  great  battle.  The  Government  trusted  him> 
and  through  his  great  influence  with  the  Rothschilds  and  other 
big  financiers  ■  in  Europe,  he  established  the  credit  of  the  United 
States  Government  by  negotiating  its  bonds.  It  is  a  matter  of 
history  that  will  ever  redound  to  the  credit  of  the  Seligman 
Brothers. 

The  milk  of  human  kindness  perennially^  flowed  in  Mr.  Selig- 
man's breast.  He  was  broad,  liberal  and  a  true  philanthropist. 
Bigotry  and  sectarianism  never  entered  his  catholic  nature.  The 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  he  was  President,  will  remain 


192  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

as  a  monument  to  his  generosity  and  his  desire  to  help  the  friend- 
less. He  founded  this  excellent  institution  some  thirty  years  ago. 
Some  fourteen  inmates  at  the  beginning  have  swelled  to  the  num- 
ber ot  575,  and  the  institution  is  conceded  to  be  a  model  and  not 
equaled  by  any  other  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  The  amount  of 
good  done,  the  orphans  taken  care  of  and  the  education  given 
them  attest  more  than  words  the  success  of  Mr.  Seligman's  original 
idea.  He  was  its  patron  and  never  ceased  to  take  care  of  and 
personally  see  that  it  proved  a  success.  He  was  the  friend  of  the 
poor  and  was  the  Director  and  President  of  many  charitable  insti- 
tutions. He  was  a  Director  in  the  New  York  Association  for 
Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  and  also  of  the  Metropolitan 
Museum  of  Art  and  the  Museum  of  Natural  Histor}-.  He  was  at 
one  time  vice-president  of  the  Union  League  Club.  When  Henry 
Clay,  the  Whig,  ran  for  President  in  1844,  Mr.  Seligman  was  too 
young  to  vote  for  the  great  statesman,  but  he  attended  a  barbecue 
at  Eutaw,  Ala.,  as  a  Henry  Clay  musician.  In  those  days  barbe- 
cues and  music  were  indispensable  adjuncts  to  a  National  cam- 
paign, and  as  Mr.  Seligman  was  a  proficient  player  on  the  fife  he 
volunteered  his  services  to  accompany  the  best  violinist  in  the 
neighborhood.  As  soon  as  the  republican  party  was  started  he 
voted  for  the  nominees  and  was  an  active,  ardent  and  outspoken 
republican  ever  thereafter. 

The  telegraph  brings  news  of  the  death  of  two  citizens  of  New 
York  City  who  had  attained  a  wide  and  honorable  reputation  in 
their  respective  callings.  For  many  years  the  name  of  Jesse 
Seligman  has  suggested,  whenever  mentioned,  the  idea  of  finan- 
cial solidity  and  high  commercial  integrity.  His  death  occurred 
yesterday  at  a  California  winter  resort,  where  he  had  arrived  only 
a  few  days  before.  He  was  sixty-seven  years  of  age,  and  a  native 
of  Bavaria.  He  came  to  this  country  when  a  mere  boy,  to  join 
three  older  brothers,  who  had  settled  in  Alabama  and  engaged  in 
the  dry-goods  business.  Soon  after  attaining  his  majority,  Jesse 
Seligman  came  North,  and  engaged  in  business  with  his  brother 
Henry  in  Waterto-.vn.  Not  long  afterwards  the  California  gold 
fever  broke  out,  and  Seligman  went  to  San  Francisco,  where  he 
resumed  business.  Like  that  of  many  other  San  Francisco  trades- 
men, his  success  was  as  great  and  as  rapid  as  that  of  the  luckiest 
of  the  gold-seekers.  He  not  only  gained  wealth,  but  he  figured 
conspicuously  in  public  affairs,  and  took  an  aggressive  part  in  the 
work  of  establishing  law  and  order  in  the  community.  In  1857  he 
came  to  New  York  City,  where,  in  1862,  the  now  famous  banking 
house  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  was  started.  This  firm,  with  its  Lon- 
don branch,  has  enjoyed  as  fair  a  reputation  as  any  similar  concern 


NEWSPAPI 

in  the  country.  Its  service  to  the  Union  during  the  war  will  be 
recalled  with  gratitude.  Not  only  was  Jesse  Seligman  a  successful 
financier,  but  he  made  noble  use  of  his  wealth,  and  his  responses 
to  all  demands  for  charity  were  proverbially  generous  and  cheer- 
ful. He  was  the  founder  of  the  New  York  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum, 

Syracuse  (N.  Y.)  Herald,  April  24,  i8g4. 
The  life  of  Jesse  Seligman  may  profitably  be  studied  by  the 
young  man  of  this  century.  He  began  his  career  without  a  dollar 
in  his  pocket  and  left  a  fortune  of  fifteen  or  twenty  million.  There 
is  not  a  blot  on  his  record ;  his  social  relations  were  exceptionably 
pure  and  his  business  conduct  characterized  by  the  highest  pi  inci- 
ples  of  honor.  Too  often  it  is  said  that  great  riches  are  usually 
acquired  through  improper  transactions,  but  while  this  may  be 
true  in  some  or  many  instances  it  is  not  always  the  fact.  Mr. 
Seligman  was  a  noble  example  of  this  latter  class.  He  was  at  one 
time  a  resident  of  Watertown  and  it  was  by  the  merest  chance 
that  he  finally  located  in  New  York  instead  of  Syracuse,  for  in 
those  early  years,  before  he  was  conscious  of  his  great  business 
gifts,  he  investigated  the  opportunities  of  this  city. 

Troy  (N.  Y.)  Times,  April  24,  i8g4. 
New  York  financial  circles  lose  a  prominent  member  through 
the  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  which  occurred  yesterday  in  Califor- 
nia. Mr.  Seligman  and  his  banking  firm  did  much  to  aid  the 
financial  schemes  of  the  Government,  and  he  was  a  trusted  adviser 
of  many  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury.  He  greatly  increased  for- 
eign confidence  in  the  credit  of  the  United  .States,  imparting  to 
investors  abroad  much  of  his  firm  belief  in  this  Government's 
ability  and  willingness  to  meet  every  obligation.  He  took  rank 
with  the  ablest  of  this  country's  financiers.  In  politics  Mr.  Selig- 
man was  an  earnest  and  active  republican. 

May  4. 

The  late  Jesse  Seligman  was  a  great  believer  in  Grant,  and  inJ 
the  latter  days,  when  both  were  men  of  power,  Seligman  could  j 
have  had  high  and  honorable  office  from  the  President  if  he  had 
been  willing  to  accept  such  honors.     The  men  met  when  Grant, 
not  long  out  of  West  Point,  and  stationed  at  Sackett's  Harbor, 
N.  Y.,  went  into  Seligman' s  little  store  at  Watertown,  in  that 
State.    Grant  came  again  and  again,  and  the  men  developed  quite  / 
a  friendship.     The  next  place  they  met  was  in  San  Francisco,/ 
where  their  friendship  was  renewed.     At  that  time  Grant  im- 
pressed Sehgman  with  his  breadth  of  view,  and  the  latter  wrote 


I94  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

his  brothers  that  if  this  man  could  put  oflf  his  modesty,  he  would 
do  great  things.  When  Grant  settled  the  "  rebs"  at  Donelson  and 
Fort  Henry,  Seligman  said  to  his  own  Wall  Street  friends:  "I 
know  him;  I  knew  him  when  he  was  a  young  officer.  If  he  is  not 
killed  or  disabled  in  battle,  he  will  suppress  the  rebellion  in  the 
West  within  a  year,  if  I  am  any  judge  of  men." 

Mays- 
The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  is  regretted  by  all  classes  in  this 

community.  He  came  to  this  country  fifty  years  ago,  a  poor  Jew- 
ish boy,  and  by  force  of  his  brain  power  and  strong  character 
placed  himself  in  an  advanced  position  in  this  city  and  nation. 
The  American  people  care  very  little  where  a  man  is  born  or  what 
church  he  goes  to.  They  shower  favors  and  praise  on  Jew  and 
Gentile  alike,  providing  only  that  they  are  true  to  the  best  princi- 
ples for  which  our  nation  stands.  The  man  who  would  be  against 
his  neighbor  because  of  his  religioiis  views,  is  as  despicable  as  he 
who  would  trade  on  his  religious  faith. 

Bethlehem  (Pa.)  Times,  April  24,  i8g4. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  occurred 
at  Coronado  Beach,  Cal.  The  end  came  peacefully,  and  conscious- 
ness was  retained  to  the  last.  Mr.  Seligman  came  to  Coronado 
last  Friday,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two  daughtei's.  He  sank 
steadily  during  Sunday  night  and  until  the  end  came.  The  body 
has  been  taken  to  an  undertaker  on  the  San  Diego  side  of  the  bay, 
where  it  will  be  embalmed  and  retained  until  the  arrival  of  his 
three  .sons,  who,  it  is  said,  left  in  a  special  train  for  San  Diego. 
When  they  arrive,  the  body  will  be  sent  to  New  York. 

He  was  a  man  of  extreme  courtesy  and  dignity  and  had  an  im- 
posing personal  appearance.  He  was  influential  in  all  great  finan- 
cial movements,  an  able  banker,  a  loyal  and  charitable  citizen, 
respected  by  all  classes  of  the  community  and  always  having  at 
heart  the  welfare  of  the  land  of  his  adoption.  He  leaves  three 
sons — Theodore,  Henry  and  Albert— and  three  daughters — jVlrs. 
Emma  Wasserman  and  the  Misses  Alice  and  Madeline.  It  is  said 
that  his  fortune  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  $10,000,00. 

L.vNCASTER  (Pa.)  Intelligencer,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  and  head  of  the  firm  of 
J.  &  W.  Seligman,  who  died  at  Coronado  Beach,  Cal.,  on  Monday, 
resided  for  a  time  in  this  city. 

He  arrived  in  New  York  on  July  4,  1841.  After  getting  more 
than  a  smattering  of  English  in  Lancaster,  Pa.,  where  two  of  his 
brothers  were,  he  went  to  Mobile  with  them  in  a  schooner.     After 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  1 95 

getting  enough  capital  by  peddling,  the  three  brothers  opened  a 
store  each  in  as  many  different  places.  They  all  made  money, 
but  concluding  that  they  did  not  make  it  fast  enough,  sold  out 
their  business  and  returned  to  the  North. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  renowned  for  his  benevolence.  His  personal 
wealth  is  estimated  at  $10,000,000.  That  of  the  combined  banking 
houses  is  probably  half  a  dozen  times  as  large.  The  American 
house  has  dealt  during  the  last  few  years  with  railways  on  a  scale 
which  only  a  large  capital  could  command. 

Mr.  Seligman  left  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Lancaster  (Pa.)  New  Era,  April  24,  i8g4. 
Jesse  Seligman,  the  eminent  New  York  banker,  who  died  sud- 
denly in  California  on  Monday,  was  for  a  time  in  his  early  life  a 
resident  of  Lancaster.  He  was  born  in  Bavaria  in  1827.  He  came 
to  this  country  when  fourteen  years  old  and  found  his  way  to 
Lancaster,  where  his  three  older  brothers,  Joseph,  William  and 
James,  were  in  a  small  business.  "  I  remained  in  Lancaster  a  few 
weeks,"  he  has  said,  "during  which  time  I  learned  the  English 
language  to  some  extent,  and  at  the  same  time  mastered  the 
science  of  smoking  penny  cigars." 

Philadelphia  (Pa.)  American,  April  24,  i8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers,  New  York  and 
London,  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado,  Cal. ,  at  9  A.  M.  to-day, 
from  pneumonia  and  Bright' s  disease.  He  came  to  Coronado  four 
days  ago,  direct  trom  New  York,  with  his  wife  and  daughter.  His 
condition  had  become  so  serious  on  his  arrival  that  all  the  members 
of  his  family  were  telegraphed  for,  but  he  died  before  their 
arrival. 

Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  has  not  been  in  good  health  for  the  past  six 
months,  and  left  this  city,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  daughter 
Alice,  last  Thursday  week  for  the  Pacific  coast,  where  he  intended 
to  remain  for  a  few  months.  His  family  and  immediate  relatives 
had  no  idea  that  his  illness  was  so  serious,  and  he  himself  hoped 
that  his  Western  trip  would  effect  his  entire  recuperation.     .     .     . 

In  1857  he  returned  to  New  York,  and  five  years  later  started 
the  banking  house,  which  is  now  known  the  world  over.  He  was 
always  a  staunch  Union  man  and  a  republican.  He  was  a  man  of 
extreme  courtesy  and  dignity,  and  had  an  imposing  personal 
appearance.  He  was  influential  in  all  great  financial  movements, 
an  able  banker,  a  loyal  and  charitable  citizen,  respected  by  all 
classes  of  the  community,  and  always  having  at  heart  the  welfare 


196  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

of  the  land  of  his  adoption.  He  never  paraded  his  wealth,  but 
frequently  gave  large  amounts  of  money  without  any  ostentation. 
He  leaves  three  sons,  Theodore,  Henry  and  Albert,  and  three 
daughters,  Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman  and  the  Misses  Alice  and 
Madeline.  It  is  said  that  his  fortune  is  in  the  neighborhood  of 
$10,000,000. 

Philadelphia  (Pa.)  Public  Ledger,  April  24,  18^4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  on  Monday,  was  born  in  Baiersdorf, 
Bavaria,  in  1826.  He  was  the  second  son  of  a  family  of  eight 
boys.  His  parents  were  peddlers,  but  they  had  acquired  sufficient 
means  to  give  their  children  a  good  education. 

Mr.  Seligman' s  man}'  acts  of  charity  were  not  limited  to  his 
race  or  religion.  He  was  for  many  years  President  of  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  of  New  York,  of  which  he  was  the 
principal  founder.  When  the  refugee  fund  for  the  relief  of  his 
imfortunate  countrymen  was  started,  he  was  the  first  to  subscribe, 
and  he  gave  time  and  money  to  many  other  benevolent  enterprises. 
He  was  extremely  popular,  and  no  man  in  Wall  Street  had  more 
friends.  More  than  once  he  helped  stock-brokers  out  of  trouble, 
and  he  frequently  went  out  of  his  way  to  do  a  good  deed  of  which 
the  public  never  heard.  He  leaves  a  widow  and  six  children — 
three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

May  J,  i8g4. 
Although  Jessie  Seligman  was  a  Hebrew  and  a  republican, 
every  religion  and  every  party  were  represented  at  his  funeral 
to-day  in  the  Temple  Emanu-El.  Bishop  Potter,  of  the  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church,  and  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  pastor  of  the  Fifth 
Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  were  among  the  great  throng  which 
filled  the  Temple. 

Philadelphia  (Pa.)  Record,  April  24,  j8g4. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  who  died  yesterday  at  Corouado 
Beach,  California,  was  a  prominent  and  most  admirable  represent- 
ative of  his  race  in  America.  From  the  most  humble  beginnings, 
a  friendless  boy  cariying  a  peddler's  pack,  he  rose  to  become  the 
head  of  one  of  the  greatest  banking  houses  in  the  world,  and  an 
unofficial  but  trusted  adviser  of  the  Government  in  some  of  its 
important  financial  operations.  Mr.  Seligman' s  career  was  an 
exemplification  of  the  opportunities  afforded  under  a  free  govern- 
ment to  the  most  lowly  of  its  citizens  to  attain  a  high  and  influen- 
tial position. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  I97 

Pittsburgh  (Pa.)  Dispatch,  April  24,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligmau,  the  well-known  Hebrew  banker  of  New  York 
City,  died  yesterday  at  Hotel  del  Coronado,  Cal.,  of  pneumonia 
and  Bright's  disease.  He  was  born  in  a  little  Bavarian  hamlet  in 
1827.  The  income  of  his  parents  was  sadly  out  of  proportion  with 
the  number  of  children,  hence  young  Jesse  was  compelled,  while 
still  a  small  lad,  to  contribute  his  share  of  work  toward  the  support 
of  the  family. 

It  was  Jesse  Seligman  who  placed  the  first  United  States  bonds 
in  European  markets  and  during  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion  he 
was  the  confidential  adviser  of  the  Government  in  financial  mat- 
ters. He  was  always  an  ardent  republican.  Mr.  Seligman  was  a 
philanthropist  and  an  upholder  of  Judaism. 


Philadelphia  (Pa.)  Times,  April  24,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers,  of  New  York 
and  London,  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado,  Cal.,  at  9  A.  M. 
to-day,  of  pneumonia  and  Bright's  disease.  He  came  to  Coronado 
four  days  ago,  direct  frorn  New  York,  with  his  wife  and  daughter. 
His  condition  had  become  so  serious  on  his  arrival  that  all  the 
members  of  his  family  were  telegraphed  for,  but  he  died  before 
their  arrival. 


Boston  (Mass.)  Herald,  April  24,  1894. 

A  dispatch  from  San  Francisco  announces  the  death  at  Coro- 
nado Beach,  this  morning,  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  great  banker. 

Jesse  Seligman' s  confidence  in  the  ability  and  disposition  of  the 
American  people  to  meet  their  obligations  never  wavered.  Secre- 
tary Sherman  also  found  a  warm  advocate  of  his  theory  of  specie 
resumption  in  the  Seligman  Bros.,  who  shared  with  him  a  belief 
in  its  easy  and  complete  success.  The  policy  of  the  firm  was 
liberal,  but  still  close  enough  to  insure  it  against  the  vicissitudes 
that  stranded  many  competitors.  The  memorable  "Black  Friday" 
panic,  which  proved  the  ruin  of  many  capitalists  in  New  York' 
left  the  house  over  which  Mr.  Seligman  presided  unscathed. 

.Of  his  ability  as  a  banker,  an  eminent  contemporary'  said:  "  I 
regard  Jesse  Seligman  as  among  the  ablest  financiers  of  Wall 
Street  and  America.  He  is  far-seeing  and  comprehensive,  cool- 
headed  and  conscious  of  his  own  ability.  He  has  been  remarkably 
successful;  in  fact,  he  has  made  a  business  of  success." 

The  house  promoted  the  Panama  Canal  project  and  the  system 
of  Southern  railroads  extending  into  Mexico. 


198  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

April  25. 

There  is  the  usual  variance  in  the  estimates  of  the  wealth  of  the 
latest  rich  man  to  die  in  New  York.  The  Sun  sets  the  late  Jesse 
Seligman's  fortune  at  $ro,ooo,ooo,  while  the  Times  puts  it  between 
$20,000,000  and  $30,000,000.  These  are  the  two  extremes,  and  the 
other  papers  range  between  these  figures,  illustrating  anew  the 
fact  that  when  a  man's  wealth  gets  up  into  the  millions,  it  is  hard 
to  figure  it  up  definitely,  especially  when  he  started  out  in  busi- 
ness with  not  a  penny  in  his  pocket. 

Atlanta  (Ga.)  Constitution,  April  24,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligmau  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado,  Cal. ,  this  morning. 

Mr.  Seligman  has  been  a  confidential  adviser  of  several  Secre- 
taries of  the  Treasury,  and  has  been  regarded  as  one  of  the 
soundest  and  most  astute  of  the  financiers  of  Wall  Street.  During 
the  panic  of  the  famous  "  Black  Friday,"  the  bank  of  Seligman 
Brothers  stood  firm  as  a  rock,  as  it  has  done  through  all  the  panics 
of  the  past  twenty  years.  In  addition  to  the  btisiness  of  the  firm, 
Mr.  .Seligman  has  taken  an  active  part  in  a  great  many  other 
enterprises,  and  has  been  noted  for  his  broad-minded  policy  and 
liberality  in  numerous  charitable  undertakings.  He  has  been 
liberal  not  only  with  the  charities  of  his  own  race,  but  also  an 
active  member  of  many  other  charitable  organizations. 

Mr.  vSeligman  leaves  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  He  has 
always  been  a  conscientious  adherent  of  the  Hebrew  faith  and 
was  a  regular  attendant  at  religious  services.  In  his  later  life  he 
was  an  enthusiastic  promoter  of  the  railroad  connections  through 
the  southwest  to  Mexico,  having  a  firm  faith  in  the  vast  future  of 
the  commerce  between  the  United  States  and  its  sister  republics 
to  the  south.  He  was  also  interested,  through  his  banking  house, 
in  the  Panama  Canal  enterprise. 

Baltimore  (Md.)  American,  April  24,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  who  went  to  California 
for  his  health  a  few  days  ago,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
daughter,  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado  this  morning.     .     .     . 

He  was  a  director  of  the  New  York  Association  for  Improving 
the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art,  and  the 
Museum  of  Natural  History.  He  donated  large  sums  of  money 
to  numerous  benevolent  and  charitable  institutions,  but  his  favorite 
one  was  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  he  was  President 
for  over  twenty  years.  When  he  was  in  town  he  never  missed 
visiting  this  place  on  Sunday,  and  took  the  deepest  interest  in  the 
children  there,  and  when  out  of  the  city,  in  his  letters  and  tele- 
grams he  always  asked  about  the  children. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  1 99 

He  leaves  three  sons — Theodore,  Henry  and  Albert — and  three 
daughters — Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman  and  the  Misses  Alice  and 
Madeline. 

It  is  said  that  his  fortune  is  in  the  neighborhood  of  $10,000,000. 

April  2^. 
Jesse  Seligman  is  another  illustration  of  the  opportunities  of 
this  countr)-.  Last  week  it  was  said  that  David  Dudle}^  Field  had 
arrived  in  New  York  with  a  Bible  and  ten  dollars,  and  had  died 
worth  a  million  and  with  the  firm  respect  of  the  world.  Mr.  Selig- 
man's  work  was  different  from  that  of  Mr.  Field,  but  he  began 
even  more  humbly,  and  from  a  small  retail  business  and  various 
enterprises  in  the  vSotith  and  North  and  the  Pacific  Slope  he  built 
up  with  his  brothers,  the  great  success  which  made  him  one  of  the 
richest  men  of  the  countr}-.  He  did  much  good  with  his  money, 
and  he  leaves  a  name  which  will  be  remembered. 

Milwaukee  (Wise.)  Evening  Wisconsin,  April  24,  i8g4. 
It  was  Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  who  died  yester- 
day in  California,  who  placed  the  first  United  States  bonds  in 
Europe.  During  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion  he  was  the  close 
friend  and  financial  adviser  of  President  Lincoln  and  his  Cabinet  on 
financial  questions.  Mr.  Seligman's  career  was  a  remarkable  one. 
Born  of  poor  parents  in  Bavaria  sixty-seven  years  ago,  he  came  to 
America  at  the  age  of  14  to  join  in  Alabama  his  three  qlder 
brothers,  but  two  years  was  enough  of  Southern  life  for  him. 
With  his  savings  he  came  North  and  settled  at  Watertown,  N.  Y. , 
and  was  doing  nicely  there  when  the  gold  fever  broke  out,  and  he 
was  swept  by  the  flood  to  the  Pacific  coast.  The  spirit  of  adven- 
ture did  not  prompt  this  step  so  much  as  the  desire  to  grasp  the 
opportunity  which  was  offered  for  successful  mercantile  enterprise. 
It  was  as  a  merchant,  not  a  gold-digger,  that  he  went  to  California, 
and  his  success  was  a  further  demonstration  of  his  adaptability 
and  good  judgment.  In  a  short  time  he  amassed  a  comfortable 
fortune.  He  was  a  member  of  the  first  citizen's  committee,  which 
was  organized  to  oppose  the  mob  which  terrorized  California,  and 
later  on  he  was  a  valuable  member  of  the  famous  ' '  Committee  of 
Forty,"  through  whose  labors  the  government  of  San  Francisco 
was  wrested  from  a  band  of  political  freebooters.  In  1S57,  Mr. 
Seligman  came  to  New  York,  and  in  1862,  together  with  his 
brothers,  founded  the  now  famous  and  wealthy  banking-house  of 
J.  and  W.  Seligman  &  Co. 

Jesse  Seligman,  a  member  of  the  well-known  banking  firm  of 
J.  and  W.  Seligman  Sr  Co.,   of  New  York,  died  yesterday  at  the 


hotel  on  Coronado  Beach,  near  San  Diego.  Bright' s  disease  was 
the  cause  of  his  death,  though  the  New  York  physicians  had  diag- 
nosed his  case  as  one  of  pneumonia,  and  the  California  physicians 
declare  he  was  not  properly  treated  in  New  York. 

Mr.  Seligman  was  in  his  69th  year.  He  established  his  banking- 
house  in  New  York  in  1862,  and  has  presided  over  its  manage- 
ment for  thirty-two  years.  He  was  born  of  poor  parentage,  at 
Baiersdorf,  Bavaria,  in  1S27.  At  the  age  of  14  Jesse  came  to  the 
United  States.  He  commenced  in  the  clothing  business  at  New 
York,  where  h(?  remained  seven  years;  then  followed  the  gold- 
hunters  to  California,  and  by  continuing  iu  trade  at  San  Francisco, 
religiously  leaving  all  mining  enterprises  alone,  he  accumulated 
a  handsome  fortune  with  which  he  returned  to  New  York.  After 
remaining  a  while  longer  in  the  clothing  business  there,  he  with 
his  seven  other  brothers  commenced  the  banking  business  in  New 
York  in  1862,  and  by  their  sagacity,  enterprise  and  good-fortune 
it  was  gradually  transformed  in  a  world-wide  banking-house. 
Probably  at  the  time  of  his  death  it  was  the  greatest  private 
bankmg-house  in  New  York. 

During  the  war  he  was  a  frequent  adviser  of  the  national 
administration  in  its  financial  affairs,  and  his  opinions  were  always 
regarded  with  respect.  Latterly  when  Sherman  was  secretary  of 
the  treasury  and  had  to  float  $150,000,000  of  4^  per  cent,  bonds  for 
the  purpose  of  resumption,  Seligman  subscribed  for  $20,000,000. 
It  turned  out  to  be  a  fortunate  venture,  as  resumption  was  secured 
and  the  bonds  rose  far  above  par.  The  name  and  prestige  of  the 
house  became  so  great  that  the  French  Panama  Canal  Company 
gave  J.  and  W.  Seligman  &  Co.  the  sum  of  $300,000  for  the  mere 
use  of  their  name  as  patrons  of  the  undertaking. 

Altogether,  he  lived  a  verj'  fortunate  life,  as  his  liberal  means 
enabled  him  to  contribute  largely  to  all  benevolent  and  charitable 
undertakings,  and  as  he  adhered  to  the  Hebrew  faith  of  his 
fathers,  and  was  prominently  known  as  such,  he  was  more  respect- 
ed than  Belmont,  because  Belmont  had  apostatized  from  the  faith 
of  his  ancestors. 

The  house  of  J.  and  W.  Seligman  &  Co.  had  a  smaller  beginning 
than  the  house  of  Rothschild,  because  they  had  not  been  entrusted 
with  the  money  and  the  jewels  of  an  exiled  German  prince,  but 
gathered  every  cent  of  their  first  beginnings  by  hard  work  and 
shrewd  enterprise  alone. 

During  President  Grant's  administration  the  London  bank  of 
the  Seligman  house  was  the  credit  institution  to  pay  all  drafts  for 
the  navy  in  European  waters,  and  for  all  public  servants  who 
obtained  their  pay  abroad.  His  appointment  by  President  Grant 
gave  a  world-wide  prestige  to  the  house  of  J.  and  W.  Seligman. 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  203 

San  Francisco  (Cal.)  Chronicle,  April  24,  1894. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  removes  one  of  the  foremost 
financiers  of  the  country.  Mr.  Seligman  had  the  advantage  of 
hard  training  in  mercantile  life  in  San  Francisco  in  early  days, 
and  the  shrewdness  and  energy  that  he  developed  in  that  fierce 
competition  raised  him  in  later  years  to  a  prominent  place  among 
New  York  bankers.  Unlike  many  rich  men  of  the  East  who  had 
strong  European  connections,  he  espoused  the  cause  of  the  North 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  and  his  faith  in  free  institutions  was 
rewarded  with  superb  gains.  He  placed  most  of  the  early  issues 
of  bonds  at  a  time  when  such  aid  was  of  incalculable  value  to  the 
Government.  He  also  gained  a  world-wnde  reputation  by  his 
gifts  to  education  and  charity. 

May  3. 

The  public  funeral  services  over  the  body  of  Jesse  Seligman 
were  held  at  the  Temple  Emanu-El  at  ten  o'clock  to-day.  The 
funeral  was  very  largely  attended,  more  so  than  any  funeral  in 
many  years.  The  spacious  synagogue  where  the  services  were 
held  was  crowded  by  legions  of  the  friends  arW  acquaintances  who 
had  come  into  contact  with  Mr.  Seligman  during  his  career,  and' 
the  crowds  who  were  trying  to  gain  admission  extended  far  out 
into  the  street.  Every  seat  within  the  church  was  occupied,  and 
the  space  between  the  pews  was  filled  up  by  occupied  camp  chairs. 
More  than  3000  people  came  to  church  to  paj^  farewell  respects  to 
the  dead  banker. 

In  the  audience  were  men  of  national  repute.  Senators,  Judges, 
Representatives,  generals,  merchants,  bankers  and  preachers, 
many  of  them  of  the  Christian  faith,  besides  thousands  in  the 
middle  walks  of  life. 

The  services  were  opened  by  an  address  by  Rabbi  Joseph 
Silverman,  who  spoke  feelingly  of  Mr.  Seligman's  modesty,  high 
character,  manhood  and  charity.  This  was  followed  by  a  hymn, 
"Parting  and  Meeting,"  rendered  by  a  quartet.  Rev.  Dr.  Gott- 
heil  then  delivered  a  eulogy-  on  the  dead  banker. 

More  than  one  hundred  carriages  followed  the  body.  The 
interment  took  place  at  Salem  Fields  Cemetery,  Long  Island  City, 
jn  the  family  mausoleum. 

Milwaukee  (Wis.)  Sentinel,  April  24,  1894. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  occurred 
this  morning  a  little  after  nine  o'clock.  The  end  came  peacefully, 
and  consciousness  was  retained  to  the  last.  Mr.  Seligman  came 
to  Coronado  last  Friday,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two  daugh- 


204  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

ters.  He  had  been  conscious  for  some  time  that  he  was  in  a  criti- 
cal condition,  and  he  hoped  the  quiet  of  this  place  and  the  mild 
climate  would  restore  his  health.  He  expressed  himself  as  hopeful 
that  the  change  would  benefit  him,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  that 
his  expectations  were  well-founded.  Shortly  afterwards,  however, 
his  condition  became  serious,  and  it  was  evident  yesterday  that  a 
crisis  was  imminent.  His  immediate  family  was  notified  to  pre- 
pare for  the  worst. 

The  body  has  been  taken  to  an  undertaker  on  the  San  Diego 
side  of  the  bay,  where  it  will  be  embalmed,  and  remain  until  the 
arrival  of  his  three  sons,  who,  it  is  said,  left  to-day  on  a  special  train 
for  San  Diego.  When  they  arrive  the  body  will  be  sent  to  New  York. 

The  local  physicians  who  attended  Mr.  Seligman  say  Bright's 
disease  caused  his  death.  They  declare  further  that  his  ailment 
was  not  properly  diagnosed  in  New  York,  and  that  his  treatment 
was  of  no  benefit.  He  was  supposed  to  be  suffering  from  pneu- 
monia when  he  came  here. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  the  head  of  one  of  the  richest  and  most 
powerful  banking  houses  of  New  York,  with  ramifications  extend- 
ing over  Europe.  He  was  born  in  a  little  Bavarian  town  in  1827. 
His  parents  were  poor  and  the  family  large,  so  little  Jesse  was 
compelled  to  do  his  share  in  work,  and  contribute  to  the  support 
of  his  brothers  and  sisters.  The  early  habits  of  indu.stry  thus 
inculcated  aided  not  a  little  in  forming  a  character  that  was 
destined  to  become  a  conspicuous  figure  in  his  time. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  the  man  who  first  placed  United  States 
bonds  in  Europe,  and  during  all  the  dark  days  of  the  rebellion  he 
was  a  close  and  confidential  adviser  of  the  Government  in  financial 
affairs.  Though  alwaj'S  a  consistent  republican  and  in  close  touch 
with  several  administrations,  Mr.  Seligman  declined  to  accept 
public  office. 

Mr.  Seligman  used  his  great  wealth  to  noble  ends.  He  labored 
constantly  in  charitable  deeds,  and  was  closely  identified  with 
many  public  charities.  The  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum  gained  much 
of  his  attention.  He  was  one  of  its  founders  and  was  President 
of  its  Board  of  Trustees. 

Mr.  Seligman  married  in  1854,  at  Munich,  Bavaria,  Miss  Henri- 
etta Hillman,  a  highly  educated  woman.  They  had  six  children, 
three  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Seligman  always  was  an 
upholder  of  the  tenets  of  Judaism,  though  he  was  liberal  and 
tolerant  in  his  views.  He  was  identified  with  its  charities  and 
the  Temple  Emanu-El.  He  will  be  remembered  as  a  conspicuous 
figure  in  the  commercial  world,  but  more  enduring,  perhaps,  will 
be  his  memory  earned  in  loving  hearts  by  his  many  deeds  of 
<^harity  and  kindness  toward  all  men. 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  205 

St.  Louis  (Mo.)  Republic,  April  2<\,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  died  this  morning  a 
little  after  nine  o'clock.  The  end  came  peacefully,  and  conscious- 
ness was  retained  to  the  last.  Mr.  Seligman  came  to  Coronado 
last  Friday,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two  daughters.  He  had 
been  conscious  for  some  time  that  he  was  in  a  critical  condition, 
but  he  hoped  the  quiet  of  the  place  and  the  mild  climate  would 
restore  his  health.  He  expressed  himself  as  hopeful  that  the 
change  would  benefit  him,  and  for  a  time  it  seemed  that  his 
expectations  were  well  grounded. 

Shortly  afterward,  however,  his  condition  became  serious,  and 
it  was  evident  yesterday  that  a  crisis  was  imminent.  His  imme- 
diate family  was  notified  to  prepare  for  the  worst.  He  sank  stead- 
ily during  Sunday  night  tmtil  the  end  came.  The  body  has  been 
taken  to  an  undertaker  on  the  San  Diego  side  of  the  bay,  where  it 
will  be  embalmed  and  remain  until  the  arrival  of  his  three  sons, 
who,  it  is  said,  left  to-day  on  a  special  train  for  San  Diego.  When 
they  arrive  the  body  will  be  sent  to  New  York. 

The  local  physicians  who  attended  Mr.  Seligman  say  Bright' s 
disease  caused  his  death.  They  declare  further  that  his  ailment 
was  not  properly  diagnosed  in  New  York,  and  that  his  treatment 
was  of  no  beneiit.  He  was  supposed  to  be  suffering  from  pneu- 
monia when  he  came. 

Mr.  Seligman  left  here  nearly  two  weeks  ago,  accompanied  by 
his  wife  and  daughter  Alice,  expecting  to  be  gone  about  six 
months.  He  had  been  in  bad  health  for  a  month,  but  his  condi- 
tion was  not  thought  to  be  serious. 

Dry  Goods  (N.  Y.)  Economist,  May  26,  1894. 

What  Sir  Moses  Montefiore  was  to  England,  Jesse  Seligman 
was  to  the  United  States.  The  men  who  stood  around  the  bier  of 
the  great  banker  a  month  ago  were  the  chief  representatives  of 
the  various  classes  of  the  mercantile  community,  assembled  to  do 
honor  to  the  man  who  throughout  his  life  was  an  honor  to  the 
great  race  to  which  he  belonged. 

From  the  smallest  beginnings,  Jesse  Seligman  rose  to  one  of 
the  most  exalted  and  influential  positions,  and  throughout  his  life 
showed  how  integrity  and  honor  may  accompany  a  successful 
business  career.  But  it  is  after  his  death  that  the  greatest  respect 
will  be  given  to  Mr.  Seligman,  for  seldom  has  any  man  shown 
greater  liberality  of  mind  and  freedom  from  prejudice,  as  are  evi- 
denced by  the  will,  which  has  just  been  probated.  No  less  than 
forty-one  charitable  institutions  are  made  legatees,  and  among 
these  all  creeds  are  represented,  Protestant  and  Catholic  institu- 
tions being  recognized  to  as  great   an  extent  as  the   Hebrew 


206  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Charities.  All  classes  will  admire  the  example  set  by  Jesse 
SeligTTian  in  his  wide-reaching  liberality,  an  example  which,  it  is 
hoped,  will  be  followed  by  ever}'  successful  business  mail. 

New  York  Independent,  April  26,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  last  Monday  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronada, 
Cal.,  was  the  head  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers  of  New 
York  and  London,  and  was  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and 
honorable  and  worthy  business  men  in  the  country. 

He  was  born  in  a  Bavarian  village  in  1825  of  Hebrew  parents, 
and  their  received  a  good  education.  He  came  to  this  countn,'  in 
1840,  following  his  older  brother  Joseph.  Beginning  at  the  bottom 
of  the  ladder,  he  found  himself  in  1849  with  a  little  capital,  and 
went  with  the  Forty-niners  to  California  where  he  engaged  in  the 
clothing  business.  When  he  reached  San  Francisco  he  hired  the 
only  brick  store  in  the  place  and  began  a  successful  biisiness.  He 
attended  strictly  to  business  and  made  great  profits  till,  in  1857, 
when  the  placer  mining  began  to  decline  rapidly,  he  returned  to 
the  East  and  joined  his  brothers  in  the  wholesale  clothing  business, 
in  which  he  continued  until  1865,  when  they  established  the 
present  banking  house  in  which  the  eight  brothers  all  eventually 
became  members,  and  branches  were  established  in  London,  Paris, 
Amsterdam,  Frankfort,  San  Francisco  and  New  Orleans.  The 
house  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  most  important  United  States 
Government  transactions,  and  Mr.  Seligman  has  been  at  the  head 
of  important  American  syndicates,  including  the  Panama  Canal 
enterprise. 

He  was  a  prominent  member  and  Vice-President  of  the  Union 
League  Club,  but  resigned  a  year  ago  when  his  son  was  denied 
admission  to  the  Club.  Mr.  Seligman  was  an  active  Republican, 
and  a  trustee  of  the  Metropolitan  Museum  of  Art  and  of  the 
American  Museum  of  Natural  History.  He  was  specially  noted 
for  his  munificent  charities,  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Montefiore  Home,  and  the  United 
Hebrew  Charities.  He  was  as  highly  honored  for  his  personal 
character  and  his  benevolent  activities  as  for  his  financial  ability 
and  success;  and  his  death  will  be  greatly  regretted. 

New  York  Financier,  April  30,  1S94. 
Jesse  Seligman,  head  of  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  &-  Co., 
died  at  Coronado  Beach,  Cal.,  April  23,  of  kidney  disease.  He 
was  born  in  Stadt  Baiersdorf,  Bavaria,  in  1827.  He  early  emi- 
grated to  Mobile,  Ala.,  where  he  started  out  as  a  peddler;  he  con- 
tinued that  occupation  until  he  had  saved  enough  money  to  start 
a  store,  which  he  sold  out  after  a  short  while  and  came  North.     He 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  207 

opened  a  store  at  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  and  stayed  there  till  the  gold 
fever  of  California  attracted  him  to  that  State.  He  became  qtiite 
a  prominent  citizen  of  San  Francisco.  He  sold  out  his  store  in  1857 
and  came  to  New  York,  and  opened  a  clothing  store,  which  was 
quite  successful,  and  it  was  not  long  before  he  entered  the  field  of 
banking,  in  which  he  became  very  prominent. 

Milwaukee  (Wis.)  Journal,  April  28,  1894. 
The  late  Jesse  Seligman  was  a  consistent  republican,  and  was 
in  the  habit  of  working  quietly  and  effectively  for  his  party  around 
election  time,  says  the  New  York  Telegram.  A  member  for 
twenty  years  and  vice-president  for  fourteen  years,  he  resigned 
from  the  Union  League  Club  last  Spring,  because  his  son  Theo- 
dore was  blackballed  .  The  only  reason  for  the  blackballing  was 
that  Theodore  was  a  Hebrew.  Up  to  the  day  of  his  death  the 
father's  resignation  had  not  been  accepted.  Six  years  ago  Jesse 
Seligman  was  suggested  as  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  mayor 
of  the  city.  He  expressed  his  unwillingness,  however,  to  accept 
the  nomination. 

Manchester  (Eng.)  Courier,  April  25,  1894. 

An  American  journalist  gives  me  some  particulars  about  Mr. 
Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker,  whose  death  is  announced 
to-day.  His  father  was  a  Bavarian  Jew,  and  a  peddler.  He  emi- 
grated when  young  to  the  United  States,  and  laid  the  foundations 
of  his  gigantic  fortune  at  San  Francisco  during  the  gold  rush,  as 
a  dealer  in  clothes.  The  money  thus  won  was  invested  in  a  cloth- 
ing business  at  New  York,  and  he  and  his  brothers  made  immense 
sums  out  of  army  contracts  during  the  civil  war.  The  banking 
firm  was  started  on  the  basis  of  these  gains,  and  so  considerable 
were  its  connections,  both  American  and  European,  that  when 
Mr.  Seligman  wished  to  retire  in  1882,  he  was  unable  to  do  so. 
He  was  a  personal  friend  of  President  Grant,  and  built  a  cottage 
at  Long  Branch,  near  that  distinguished  soldier's  residence. 

London  (Eng.)  Jewish  Chronicle,  April  i-j,  1894. 

We  regret  to  announce  the  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  the 
well-known  New  York  banker,  which  took  place  on  Monday  last, 
at  San  Diego,  in  Southern  California.  Mr.  Seligman  had  only 
arrived  in  California  four  days  previously,  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health.  He  was  suffering  from  Bright' s  disease  and  pneumonia, 
and  the  immediate  cause  of  death  was  an  operation  which  it  had 
been  found  necessary  for  him  to  undergo. 

Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  was  the  brother  of  Mr.  Lsaac  Seligman  and 


208  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Mr.  Leopold  Seligman  (Seligman  Brothers),  of  London.  He  was 
born  in  the  third  decade  of  the  present  century,  at  Stadt  Baiers- 
dorf,  in  Bavaria,  where  his  ancestors  had  lived  for  over  two  cen- 
turies. 

.  .  .  Immediately  on  their  acquaintance  being  formed,  they 
became  firm  friends,  and  from  that  hour  until  General  Grant's 
death,  Mr.  Seligman,  as  he  publicly  declared  at  a  banquet  given 
in  hi.s  honor  in  New  York  on  the  ist  October,  1891,  knew  of  no 
man  entitled  to  greater  love  and  respect,  not  only  from  his  own 
immediate  friends,  but  from  the  entire  people  of  the  United 
States.     .     .     . 

We  have  already  mentioned  that  Mr.  Seligman  was  entertained 
in  New  York  at  a  banquet  in  October,  1891,  by  the  officers  and 
directors  of  the  Hebrew  charitable  institutions  and  the  Trustees 
of  Temple  Emanu-El.  A  feature  of  the  banquet  was  that  it 
opened  with  contributions  in  aid  of  the  Russian  Jews,  the  list 
being  headed  by  Mr.  Seligman  with  a  donation  of  $5,000.  In 
responding  to  the  toast  of  his  health,  the  millionaire  banker  spoke 
jestingly  of  his  early  struggles  in  America.  When  he  disem- 
barked, a  mere  youth,  at  Castle  Garden,  he  asked  to  be  directed 
to  a  good  hotel  where  he  could  sleep  for  a  dollar  a  week.  He  was 
conducted  to  a  hotel,  where  he  occupied  a  garret.     .     .     . 

In  the  foregoing  sketch,  we  have  dwelt  on  Mr.  Seligman's  busi- 
ness career.  We  need  only  add  that  throughout  his  life  he  re- 
mained a  staunch  and  earnest  Jew,  devoting  his  time,  his  energies 
and  his  purse  to  the  welfare  of  the  community  and  its  religious 
institutions,  foremost  among  the  latter  being  the  Hebrew  Orphan 
Asylum,  with  which  he  was  connected,  and  in  which  he  took  great 
interest  since  its  establishment  in  1859.  It  will  be  remembered 
that  Mr.  Seligman  some  years  ago  valiantly  championed  the  Jews 
against  the  intolerance  of  Judge  Hilton,  the  Executor  of  Mr. 
Stewart,  the  "Universal  Provider"  of  New  York.  Judge  Hilton 
had  manifested  his  anti-Semitic  tendencies  so  far  as  to  avow  his 
dislike  to  Jewish  custom,  and  even  gave  directions  for  their  exclu- 
sion from  his  hotel  at  a  watering-place.  The  engineer  was  hoist 
with  his  own  petard,  for,  not Aithstanding  the  "bold  advertise- 
ment" obtained  by  Mr.  Hilton's  extraordinary  proceedings,  the 
loss  of  Jewsh  custom  was  disastrous.  General  sympathy  was 
expressed  with  Mr.  Seligman  in  this  agitation. 

Honored  by  the  best  among  the  American  people  for  the  purity 
of  his  patriotism  and  his  loyalty  to  his  adopted  country,  respected 
by  his  fellow-citizens  for  his  civic  virtues  and  public  services, 
beloved  by  his  co-religionists  for  his  warm  devotion  to  his  race 
and  religion,  whose  best  interests  he  was  ever  ready  to  serve  and 
defend,  Jesse  Seligman  was  indeed  a  representative  American  Jew. 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  20Q 

The  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  which  occured 
in  Soiithern  California  this  week,  is  a  severe  loss  to  the  Jewish 
community.  That  loss  will  be  felt  far  and  wide  beyond  the  city 
of  New  York,  in  which  he  was  without  doubt  the  foremost  Israelite. 
A  man  of  rare  and  highly  developed  public  spirit,  he  was  one  of 
the  most  eminent  of  Jewish  philanthropists.  The  part  which  he 
had  taken  during  the  last  twelve  years  in  connection  with  the 
great  Russo-Jewish  question  is  enough  to  have  endeared  his  name 
to  his  co-religionists  throughout  the  world.  Mr.  Seligman  has 
been  in  constant  communication  with  the  Russo-Jewish  Committee 
in  London.  Onlj-  those  who  have  been  deeply  engaged  in  the 
terrible  problem  of  the  persecution  of  the  Jews  in  Russia  can  fuU)-^ 
estimate  the  value  of  the  services  which  Mr.  Seligman  has  ren- 
dered in  the  efforts  to  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the  thousands 
of  victims  who  have  fled  to  the  United  States.  The  head  of  a 
family  who  are  honorabh'  associated  with  the  principal  Jewish 
communities  on  the  continent  of  Europe  and  in  London,  Mr.  Selig- 
man has  won  the  regard  and  admiration  of  multitudes  of  his  co- 
religionists in  ever}?-  part,  as  well  as  the  esteem  of  his  Christian 
neighbors.  Guided  by  ripe  judgment  and  a  strong  intellect,  he 
has  been  indefatigable  in  the  cause  of  alleviating  the  sufferings 
of  the  Jewish  poor.  The  intimate  connection  between  the  organi- 
zations for  the  relief  of  persecuted  Russian  Jews  which  have  their 
centres  in  so  manj-  capitals  renders  the  loss  of  such  a  man  a  uni- 
versal loss. 

Hebrew  American  (N.  Y.),  April  27,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman,  bankers.  New  York  and 
London,  died  at  the  Hotel  del  Coronado,  California,  at  nine 
o'clock  this  morning.  Pneumonia  and  Bright's  disease  caused 
his  death.  His  wife  and  daughters  were  with  him.  Mr.  Selig- 
man's  charities  were  innumerable.  The  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum, 
which  he  founded  thirty  years  ago,  will  be  an  enduring  monu- 
ment to  his  name.  It  is  one  of  the  most  admirable  institutions  in 
New  York. 

During  the  war  and  the  troubled  years  immediately  preceding 
it,  there  was  no  stauncher  Union  man  than  Jesse  Seligman.  He 
believed  in  the  Union  cause  with  all  his  heart  and  head,  because 
he  felt  that  it  was  right,  because  he  knew  that  it  would  ultimately 
triumph.  Never  did  he  hesitate  to  express  his  views.  The  service 
that  he  did  to  this  country  at  that  time  can  never  be  adequately 
measured.  He  enjoyed  the  absolute  confidence  of  the  Government, 
and  he  was  trusted  as  few  private  citizens  have  been  trusted- 
The  Seligmans  handled  nearly  all  of  the  delicate  financial  busi- 
ness of  the    Government   abroad,  and   this   confidence,  together 


2IO  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

with  the  wonderful  use  he  made  of  the  trust  given  him,  show 
how  genuine  was  his  patriotism  and  how  remarkable  his  finan- 
cial genius. 

New  York  Tribune,  May  i,  1894. 

The  special  train,  consisting  of  drawing-room,  dining  nnd  funeral 
cars,  which  left  San  Diego,  Cal.,  on  Thursday,  at  5  P.  M,,  with  the 
body  of  Jesse  Seligman,  arrived  at  the  Grand  Central  Station  at 
7. 10  P.  M.  yesterday.  The  funeral  party  consisted  of  Mrs.  Selig- 
man, her  three  sons,  Theodore,  Albert  and  Henry ;  Mrs.  Albert 
Seligman,  Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman  and  the  jNIisses  Alice  and 
Madeline  Seligman. 

At  Albany,  the  funeral  party  was  met  by  Mr.  James  Seligman, 
Edward  Wasserman  and  Mrs.  Theodore  Plellman.  A  large  num- 
ber of  relatives  and  friends  meet  the  train  on  its  arrival  here, 
among  them  being  the  directors  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum, 
to  whose  interests  Mr.  Seligman's  charity  was  especially  devoted. 
Among  the  relativos  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jefferson  Seligman, 
Washington  Seligman,  Isaac  N.  Seligman,  Alfred  Seligman,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Dewitt  J.  Seligman,  David  L.  Einstein  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  J.  Bernheimer. 

The  family  proceeded  at  once  to  the  Seligman  home.  No.  2 
East  Forty-sixth  Street,  and  the  body,  escorted  by  those  who 
came  to  receive  it,  was  borne  to  the  Temple  Emanu-El,  Fifth 
Avenue  and  Forty-third  Street,  wliere  a  sculptor  made  a  plaster 
cast  of  the  dead  banker's  head,  which  will  be  used  in  forming  the 
monument  to  Jesse  Seligman  to  be  erected  on  the  grounds  of  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum. 

The  funeral  will  take  place  at  the  Temple  Emanu-El  to-morrow 
at  10  A.  M.  A  member  of  the  family,  when  seen  at  the  Seligman 
home,  last  night,  said:  "The  trip  from  San  Diego  here  was  with- 
out incident.  All  along  the  line  the  greatest  kindness  and  con- 
sideration was  shown  us." 

May  3. 
Impressive  funeral  services  were  held  in  the  Temple  Emanu-El, 
Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-third  Street,  at  ten  o'clock  yesterday 
morning,  over  the  body  of  Jesse  Seligman.  It  was  expected  that 
the  attendance  would  be  large,  and  a  detachment  of  police  was 
present,  but  no  one  thought  the  throng  would  be  so  great  a.s  that 
which  crowded  the  Temple  and  swayed  backward  and  forward  on 
the  sidewalks  and  street.  Among  those  jostled  by  the  throng  was 
the  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  of  the  Fifth  Avence  Presbyterian  Church; 
but  finally  he  was  recognized  by  one  of  the  ushers,  and  was  con- 
ducted to  a  seat.     Bishop  H.  C.  Potter  was  also  in  the  congrega- 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  211 

tion.  Some  others  there  were  Isidor  and  Samuel  Wormser,  S.  M. 
Shafer,  Charles  Sternbach,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Kohler,  President  of  the 
New  York  Board  of  Jewish  Miuisters;  General  Seasongood,  of 
Cincinnati;  Dr.  De  Sola  Mendes,  Dr.  Hirsch,  and  J.  Blumenthal. 
The  Hospital  Saturday  and  Sunday  Association  was  represented 
by  A.  B.  de  Freece.  On  the  platform  back  of  the  pulpit  was  a 
group  of  150  children  from  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum.  In  front 
of  the  pulpit  were  massed  more  than  fifty  floral  pieces. 

At  ten  o'clock  the  members  of  the  family  quietly  passed  by  a 
side  entrance  to  the  seats  reserved  for  them.  The  group  consisted 
of  the  widow,  escorted  by  her  son,  Theodore  Seligman,  and  fol- 
lowed by  Henry  Seligman,  Albert  Seligman,  the  Misses  Madeline 
Seligman  and  Alice  Seligman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wasserman,  James 
Seligman,  the  brother  and  partner  of  the  dead  banker;  Professor 

E.  R.  A.  Seligman,  Isaac  N.  Seligman,  Dewitt  J.  Seligman  and 
George  W.  Seligman.  Shortly  afterward  the  pall-bearers,  con- 
ducted by  Rabbi  Gustav  Gottheil  and  his  assistant,  Joseph  Silver- 
man, of  Temple  Emanu-El,  passed  from  the  entrance  north  of  the 
pulpit  to  the  front  entrance.  The  soft  notes  of  the  organ  were 
heard,  and  the  coffin,  covered  with  violets,  was  borne  in,  followed 
by  the  pall-bearers.  Conspicuously  in  fiont,  with  his  head  of 
snowy  vv'hite  hair  bowed,  walked  William  M.  Evarts  by  the  side  of 
Lewis  May,  President  of  the  Congregation. 

The  other  pall-bearers  were  Seth  Low,  Cornelius  N.  Bliss,  Henry 
Rice,  President  of  the  United  Hebrew  Charities;  John  A.  Stewart, 
Oscar  S.  Straus,  ex-Minister  to  Turkey ;  General  Horace  Porter, 
Abram  S.  Hewitt,  Mayor  Thomos  F.  Gilroy,  Emanuel  Lehman, 
Thomas  Dolan,  of  Philadelphia;  L.  Gans,  ex-Postmaster-General 
John  Wanamaker,  Carl  Schurz,  Colonel  Frederick  D.  Grant,  C.  L. 
Bernheim,  President  of  the  Home  for  the  Aged;  Colonel  John  J. 
McCook,  Abraham  Wolff ,  Treasurer  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum ; 
John  F.  Dillon,  D.  Willis  James,  A.  D.  Juilliard,  ex-Congressman 
Edwin  Einstein,  Colonel  William  L.  Strong,  William  Walter 
Phelps,  ex-Minister  to  Germany;  H.  Blum,  President  of  the  Mount 
Sinai  Hospital ;  Charles  H.  Cramp,  of  Philadelphia ;  Myer  Stern, 
Secretary  of   the   Hebrew   Orphan   Asolum ;   General   Benjamin 

F.  Tracy,  Simon  W.  Rosendale,  Ed.vfard  Lauterbach,  James 
McCreery,  Myer  S.  Isaacs,  President  of  the  Baron  Hirsch  Fund; 
John  Crosby  Brown,  Dr.  H.  Baar,  Edwin  D.  Adams,  James  H. 
Hoffman,  A.  S.  Solomons,  Manager  of  the  Baron  de  Hirsch 
Fund,  and  J.   Hood  Wright,  of  Drexel,  Morgan  &  Co. 

Meanwhile  a  delegation  from  the  Union  League  Club  had 
entered  and  been  assigned  to  seats.  Among  the  delegates  named 
were  WiUiam  H.  Webb,  Salem  H.  Wales,  S.  P.  Avery,  Logan  C. 
Murray.   James  G.  De  Forest,    Henry  C.  Yale,    Colonel  Joel  B. 


212  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

Erhardt.  Sigourney  W.  Fay,  H.  L.  Horton,  Joseph  Pool.  Vincenzo 
Botta,  Jacob  Wendell,  W.  P.  St.  John,  Stephen  R.  Lesher,  C.  H. 
T.  Collis,  William  L.  Pomeroy,  A.  G.  Hyde,  John  D.  Lawson, 
Jonathan  H.  Crane,  E.  B.  Hinsdale,  ElihuRoot,  J.  Seaver  Page, 
William  Buchanan.  Henry  B.  Plant,  Tilden  Blodgett,  Isaac  Town- 
send  Smith,  C.  T.  Cook,'  Charles  E.  Whitehead,  John  Elderkin, 
Charles  F.  Roe,  W.  Q.  Riddle,  F.  Taylor,  W.  H.  Brown,  Dorman 
B.  Eaton,  E.  H.  Moeran,  John  K.  Cilley,  Hugh  N.  Camp,  Thomas 
B.  Clarke,  C.  C.  Tiffany,  Samuel  Shethar,  John  Sloane,  D.  F- 
Appleton,  William  Tousey,  W.  T.  Schley,  M.  C.  Addoms,  Emer- 
son Foote  and  J.  Adriance  Bush. 

The  services  were  opened  by  Rev.  Wm.  Sparger,  the  cantor  of 
the  Temple,  who  read  a  psalm  and  then  sang  a  dirge  responsively 
with  the  choir.  Rabbi  Silverman  delivered  a  funeral  address  of 
great  eloquence,  simplicity,  thoughtf  ulness  and  beauty  of  rhetoric. 
He  referred  to  Mr.  Seligman  as  one  who  in  his  lifetime  practised 
those  virtues  which  by  some  would  entitle  him  to  be  called  a  true 
Christian,  by  others  a  true  Mahometan  and  by  others  a  true  Bud- 
dhist. "  But,"  exclaimed  the  preacher,"  I  would  call  him  atypical 
American  Jew." 

A  dirge  was  then  sung  by  the  choir,  consisting  of  A.  J.  Davis, 
organist;  F.  Van  der  Stucken,  assistant;  Misses  Fannie  Hirsch 
and  Fitzhugh,  Mrs.  A.  Bulkley  Hills  and  Signor  C.  Bologna.  An 
address,  chiefly  directed  to  the  comforting  of  the  family,  was 
made  by  Dr.  Gottheil.  Mendelssohn's  "Parting  and  Meeting" 
and  "Cast  Thy  Burdens"  were  sung.  A  long  procession  of  car- 
riages followed  the  hearse  to  the  Brooklyn  Ferry,  at  East  Twenty- 
third  Street.  At  the  Salem  Fields  Cemetery,  Cypress  Hills,  there 
were  simple  services.   The  body  was  placed  in  the  Seligman  vault- 

The  publisher  of  The  American  Hebreru,  Philip  Cowen,  yester- 
day received  the  following  dispatch  from  Baron  Hirsch : 

"  Seligman's  memory  will  be  cheri.shed  for  his  generosity  and 
large-heartedness.     A  man  could  wish  no  higher  praise." 

New  York  Home  Journal,  May  2,  1894. 

The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman,  a  member  of  the  great  firm  of 
bankers,  which  occurred  last  week  at  Coronado  Beach,  California, 
lemoves  a  good  man  and  useful  citizen.  In  business  circles  and 
in  society  he  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem.  He  once  said; 
"My  success,  whatever  it  has  been,  I  attribute,  first,  to  the  fact 
that  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  become  a  citizen  of  this  great 
Republic,  under  whose  beneficent  laws  the  poor  and  the  rich- 
irrespective  of  race  or  creed,  have  equal  opportunities  of  education 
and  material  prosperity ;     secondly,  to  the  fact  that  I  have  always 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  2I3 

endeavored  to  extract  something  good  rather  than  evil  from  every- 
thing that  has  come  before  me,  which  has  had  the  effect  of  making 
lighter  the  cares  and  tribulations  of  this  life;  in  the  next  place,  to 
the  great  assistance  of  my  good  brothers,  to  the  companionship 
and  advice  of  a  loving  wife  and  children,  and,  above  all,  to  a  kind 
and  merciful  God."  The  burial  takes  place  from  Temple  Emanu- 
El  to-day. 

Harper's  Weekly,  May  5,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  of  the  banking  firm  of  J.  and  W.  Seligman, 
died  in  CaHfornia  on  the  23d  of  April.  At  the  head  of  one  of  the 
largest  financial  houses  in  the  United  States,  controlling  vast 
interests,  it  was  not  merely  for  his  ability  as  a  financier  that  Jesse 
Seligman  was  known,  but  for  his  patriotism  and  philanthropy.  It 
was  during  and  after  the  civil  war  that  Jesse  Seligman,  with  his 
brothers,  entered  heart  and  soul  into  the  financial  policy  of  the 
United  States.  He  upheld  the  credit  of  the  country,  and  became 
the  trusted  adviser  of  many  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Treasury.  It 
was  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Jesse  Seligman  that  heavy 
amounts  of  bonds  were  placed  in  Europe.  Never  for  a  moment, 
despite  adverse  criticisms,  did  he  question  the  financial  soundness 
of  his  country.  Jessie  Seligman  was  endowed  with  the  highest 
qualities  of  a  financier — quickness  of  perception,  untiring  energy, 
and,  above  all,  an  unimpeachable  integrity.  Probably  no  govern- 
ment in  its  financial  business  placed  such  implicit  confidence  in 
any  one  man  as  ours  had  in  Jesse  Seligman.  Always  a  republican, 
he  had  the  entire  respect  of  those  who  differed  from  him  in  politics, 
for  he  was  known  to  be  imbued  with  honest  convictions.  One 
endearing  trait  was  his  respect  for  the  opinions  of  others  not  in 
consonance  with  his  own.  Those  who  knew  him  well  say  that 
they  never  heard  fall  from  his  lips  one  word  colored  with  prejudice. 
He  found  the  good  qualities  of  those  he  met  in  life,  and  forgot  or 
overlooked  their  faults. 

To  his  public  and  private  charities  Jesse  Seligman  devoted  all 
his  leisure.  His  was  practical  benevolence  developed  to  its  utmost 
extent.  Taking  an  orphan  asylum  which  twenty-five  years  ago 
had  but  a  dozen  or  so  of  inmates,  through  his  care  and  munificence 
it  now  houses  600  children.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York 
Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  and  many 
other  institutions,  charitable,  scientific  and  literary. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  born  in  Bavaria  in  1827,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1841,  Though  a  lad  of  but  fourteen,  he  was  well 
educated.  Going  to  Mobile,  he  entered  into  business.  Associated 
with  his  brothers,  who  were  his  seniors,  some  little  money  was 
made.     Jesse,  coming  North,  opened  a  small  dry-goods  shop  in 


214  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

Watertown,  New  York,  and  there  it  is  said,  he  became  first 
acquainted  with  General  Grant,  who  was  then  a  Lieutenant.  In 
1850,  Jesse  Seligman  went  to  California,  and  there  the  foundation 
of  the  fortunes  of  the  Seligmans  had  its  commencement.  The 
community  there  at  once  appreciated  the  young  man's  ability  and 
courage.  He  became  one  of  the  members  of  the  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee, and  later,  in  1856,  took  a  leading  part  as  one  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Forty  in  the  selection  of  an  honest  city  government  for 
San  Francisco.  In  1S57,  ]\Ir.  Jesse  Seligman  came  to  New  York 
and  established  himself  permanently.  The  San  Francisco  house 
was  represented  by  him.  Shortly  after,  associated  with  his 
brothers,  the  banking  house  was  founded.  In  1891,  on  the  occasion 
of  a  public  dinner,  on  being  urged  to  give  some  account  of  his 
successful  career,  Mr.  Seligman  said : 

"  I  had  the  good  fortune  to  become  a  citizen  of  this  great  repub- 
lic, under  whose  beneficent  laws  the  poor  and  the  rich,  irrespective 
of  race  or  creed,  have  equal  opportunities  of  education  and  mate- 
rial prosperity.  I  have  always  endeavored  to  extract  something 
good  rather  than  evil  from  everything  that  has  come  before  me." 

Clothier  and  Furnisher  (N.  Y.  &  Chicago),  May  4,  1894. 

Many  expressions  of  heartfelt  .sorrow  were  caused  when,  on 
April  23d,  it  became  known  that  during  the  early  hours  of  that 
day  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  of  the  New  York  firm  of  bankers,  J.  & 
W.  Seligman,  had  breathed  his  last  at  the  Coronado  Hotel,  San 
Diego,  where  ten  days  ago  he  had  gone  for  the  recuperation  of 
his  health. 

Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  was  born  in  the  town  of  Baiersdorf,  Bavaria, 
in  1827.  He  came  to  New  York  on  July  4,  1841,  where  he  invested 
the  small  amount  of  money  he  had  then  in  his  possession  in  a 
peddling  outfit.  While  the  profits  derived  from  this  business  were 
small,  he  succeeded  in  savmg  $1,000,  and  invested  this  sum  in  a 
general  merchandise  store,  which  he,  in  company  with  his  brother, 
Joseph,  started  at  Selma,  Ala.  In  1848,  Mr.  Seligman  opened  a 
clothing  store  in  Church  Street,  New  York.  In  1849,  he  went  to 
California,  and  secured  a  substantial  fortune  during  the  period  of 
excitement  in  the  gold  regions.  In  1S57,  he  joined  his  brothers 
Joseph  and  James,  who  conducted  a  prosperous  clothing  store  in 
this  city,  and  during  the  civil  war  the  firm  transacted  a  very 
extensive  business  in  supplying  the  army  with  clothes.  In  1865, 
the  Seligmans  founded  the  present  banking  house  at  21  Broad 
Street,  with  all  the  eight  Seligman  brothers  as  members.  They 
soon  became  known  to  be  among  the  ablest  bankers  in  the  coun- 
try, and  branches  of  the  house  were  established  in  many  cities  of 
Europe,  South  America,  and  in  the  West  Indies. 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  215 

Since  the  extensive  banking  system  of  the  Seligmans  was 
founded,  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  has  taken  an  active  part  in  all  the 
great  financial  schemes  of  the  Government,  which  in  more  than 
one  instance  sought  his  advice.  He  also  became  identified  with 
many  prominent  commercial  enterprises.  He  was  a  conscientious 
adherent  to  the  Hebrew  faith  and  an  active  worker  in  many 
charitable  institutions.  His  death  terminated  one  of  the  most 
successful  and  one  of  the  most  useful  lives,  and  the  grief  his 
demise  has  brought  to  many  is  honest  and  sincere. 

Albany  (N.  Y.)  Country  Gentleman,  May  3,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  prominent  New  York  banker,  died  at  San 
Diego,  Cal.,  April  23,  of  Bright's  disease.  He  was  born  at  Baiers- 
dorf,  Bavaria,  in  1827,  and  followed  his  elder  brother  to  this 
country  in  1841.  With  the  small  sum  of  money  he  possessed  he 
bought  a  peddler's  outfit,  and  managed  to  do  a  business  from 
which  he  saved  $1,000.  With  this  he  joined  his  brother  in  open- 
ing a  store  at  Selma,  Ala.,  where  he  remained  till  1848,  when  he 
opened  a  clothing  store  in  New  York  City.  On  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  California  he  carried  his  business  thither,  and  by  sticking 
to  it  during  a  period  of  excitement  and  demoralization,  secured  a 
substantial  fortune.  Returning  to  New  York,  he  and  his  brothers, 
when  the  civil  war  opened,  did  an  extensive  business  in  supplying 
the  army  with  clothes.  At  the  close  of  the  war  the  Seligmans 
abandoned  business,  and  devoted  their  large  capital  to  finance; 
and  it  was  owing  to  Jesse's  foresight  and  ability  that  the  United 
States  was  first  able  to  place  its  bonds  in  Europe.  He  leaves  an 
enormous  fortune.  In  politics  he  was  a  republican ;  in  religion  he 
always  adhered  to  the  Hebrew  faith. 

Brooklyn  (N.  Y.)  Eagle,  May  3,  1894. 

Ex-Mayor  Hewitt  made  an  excellent  and  characteristic  speech 
before  the  General  Society  of  Mechanics  and  Tradesmen  in  New 
York  last  night.  He  put  his  finger  upon  and  crushed  the  life  out 
of  the  "unearned  increment"  and  kindred  nonsense.  He  had 
been  to  a  funeral,  that  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman,  and  an  interesting 
fact  furnished  him  with  a  text.  He  said  Seligman  represented 
more  wealth  than  was  accumulated  in  the  whole  city  of  New 
York  when  the  Society  was  founded,  about  a  hundred  years  ago. 
This  is  substantially  the  subject  of  a  loud  outcry  which  goes  up  at 
the  present  day.  It  brought  up  the  direct  question  of  riches  and 
the  right  to  get  and  to  hold  them.  Mr.  Hewitt  was  not  afraid  of 
it.  He  suggested  the  question  what  the  city  would  be  to-day  but 
for  the  "unearned  increment."  How  many  people  would  have 
gone  there,  and  what  would  have  been  their  state  of  advance  and 


2l6  JESvSK   SKLIGMAN 

prosperity,  if  the  right  to  work  had  not  been  maintained— the 
right  to  earn  what  work  was  worth,  and  to  keep  what  was  hon- 
estly earned?  This  is  the  root  of  the  whole  matter;  it  is  imposs- 
ble  for  an  intelligent  man  to  think  it  out,  practically,  aided  by 
experience  and  common-sense,  undiverted  by  visionary  vagaries 
without  reaching  one  conclusion. 

Maj  J. 
The  Rev.  Dr.  G.  Taubenhaus  of  the  Congregation  Beth  Elohini. 
in  State  Street,  near  Hoyt,  delivered  a  eulogy  this  morning  on  the 
late  Jesse  Seligman.  The  speaker  said  that  the  mere  possession 
of  wealth  commands  no  respect,  but  the  wise  management  and  the 
benevolent  use  of  it  has  always  been  and  ever  will  be  an  object  of 
admiration  as  long  as  the  sun  gives  warmth  and  the  stars  retain 
their  lustre.  The  philanthropist  does  not  benefit  the  world  only 
by  giving,  but  by  teaching.  Charitable  deeds  challenge  emulation- 
There  is  no  telling  how  many  hard  hearts  have  been  softened  and 
how  many  close-fisted  hands  have  been  opened,  how  many  favored 
sons  of  good  fortune  have  been  stirred  and  influenced  to  do  charity 
by  the  glorious  example  of  Jesse  Seligman.  He  was  not  only  a 
charity  doer,  but  a  teacher  of  charity.  The  magnificent  gifts 
which  he  offered  for  the  benefit  of  mankind  are  eloquent  sermons 
which  he  delivered  from  the  golden  pulpit  of  providence  so  kindly 
erected  for  him. 

Schenectady  (N.  Y.)  Union,  Maf  2,  1S94. 
Monday  the  Union  referred  to  a  special  funeral  train  passing 
here  bearing  the  remains  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman,  the  banker 
and  millionaire,  from  San  Dieogo,  California,  to  New  York. 
Engine  877  drew  the  train,  consisting  of  three  coaches.  The  run 
was  made  from  Syracuse  to  Albany,  a  distance  of  147  miles, 
including  a  five-minute  stop  at  Utica,  in  two  hours  and  forty 
minutes.  The  above  is  fifteen  minutes  better  time  than  that 
made  by  the  Empire  State  Express. 

May  5. 
The  late  Jesse  Seligman  was  a  great  believer  in  Grant,  and  in 
the  latter  days,  when  both  were  men  of  power,  Seligman  could 
have  had  high  and  honorable  office  from  the  President  if  he  had 
been  willing  to  accept  such  honors.  The  men  met  when  Grant, 
not  long  out  of  West  Point,  and  stationed  at  Sackett's  Harbor, 
N.  Y. ,  went  into  Seligmau's  little  store  at  Watertown,  in  this 
State.  Grant  came  again  and  again,  and  the  men  developed  quite 
a  friendship.     The  next  place  they  met  was  in  San  Franciscq, 


ISTEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  217 

where  their  friendship  was  renewed.  At  that  time  Grant  im- 
pressed Seligman  with  his  breadth  of  view,  and  the  latter  wrote 
his  brothers  that  if  this  man  could  put  off  his  modesty,  he  would 
do  great  things.  AVhen  Grant  settled  the  "rebs"  at  Donelson 
and  Fort  Henry,  SeUgman  said  to  his  own  Wall  Street  friends : 
"  I  know  him  ;  I  knew  him  when  he  was  a  young  officer.  If  he  is 
not  killed  or  disabled  in  battle,  he  will  suppress  the  rebellion  in 
the  West  within  a  year,  if  I  am  any  judge  of  men." 

Troy  (N.  Y.)  Times,  May  5,  1894. 
The  death  of  Jesse  Seligman  is  regretted  by  all  classes  in  this 
communitj^  He  came  to  this  country  fifty  years  ago,  a  poor  Jew- 
ish boy,  and,  by  force  of  his  brain-power  and  strong  character, 
placed  himself  in  an  advanced  position  in  this  city  and  nation. 
The  American  people  care  very  little  where  a  man  is  bom  or  what 
church  he  goes  to.  They  shower  favors  and  praise  on  Jew  and 
Gentile  alike,  providing  only  that  they  are  true  to  the  best  princi- 
ples for  which  our  nation  stands.  The  man  who  would  be  against 
his  neighbor  because  of  his  religious  views  is  as  despicable  as  he 
who  would  trade  on  his  religious  faith, 

Bath  (Me.)  Times,  May  5,  1894. 
The  late  Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  a  few  days  ago  at  Coronado 
Beach,  Cal.,  came  to  this  country  in  1840,  and  when  he  landed, 
inquired  for  a  place  where  he  could  board  for  one  dollar  a  week. 
He  died  worth  $30,000,000.  Young  man,  if  you  follow  his  exam- 
ple, especially  about  the  one  dollar  a  week,  you  may  be  able  to  do 
the  same  thing. 

Boston  (Mass.)  Post,  May  10,  1894. 

The  Hebrews  of  this  city  are  talking  a  great  deal  about  the  late 
Jesse  Seligman.  Not  a  Hebrew  paper  was  issued  during  the  week 
in  which  he  passed  away  but  what  had  some  account  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Seligman  did  a  very  good  work  in  aiding  young  Hebrew 
students  in  their  efforts  to  obtain  college  education ;  a  number  of 
Harvard  students  are  mourning  for  him.  Although  money  seemed 
to  come  rapidly  with  Mr.  Seligman,  it  went  as  fast  as  it  came,  and 
always  toward  some  charitable  affair.  Very  few  millionaires  dis- 
pense with  their  money  in  this  manner,  but  Mr.  Seligman  had  an 
idea  that  the  more  he  gave  towards  charity  the  more  came  into 
his  hands. 

On  the  day  of  his  funeral,  services  were  held  in  many  syna- 
gogues in  the  United  States,  with  the  usual  formality,  for  in  the 
loss  of  Mr.  Seligman  the  Hebrews  realize  the  loss  of  one  of  their 
most  noble  brothers. 


2l8  JESSE   SELlCiMAN 

Newport  (R.  I.)  News,  3fajf  4,  1894. 
The  Christian  Advocate,  chief  organ  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  pays  a  high  compliment  to  the  late  Jesse  vSeligman, 
and  after  sketching  his  history,  says:  "  Mr.  Seligman  was  heavily 
interested  in  the  Panama  Canal  enterprise,  and  was  at  the  head  of 
the  American  syndicate  formed  to  place  the  shares  in  this  country. 
His  capital  and  wisdom  enabled  him  to  support  the  credit  of  the 
Government  as  few  other  houses  could  do.  His  philanthropic  gifts 
were  numerous,  and  his  interest  in  higher  education  great.  He- 
brew in  race  and  faith,  he  was  as  loyal  and  patriotic  a  citizen  as 
New  York  Citj'  contained." 

Kate  Field's  Washington,  (D.  C.)  May  g,  1894. 
The  death  of  Mr.  Jesse  Seligman  at  Coronado  Beach,  Southern 
California,  where  he  went  in  search  of  health,  leaves  a  great  void. 
Universally  respected,  intelligent,  shrewd  and  philanthropic,  Mr. 
Seligman  was  a  leader  among  his  own  people  and  a  citizen  of 
whom  New  York  had  reason  to  be  proud.  President  of  the  He- 
brew Orphan  Asylum  for  nearly  twenty  years,  Mr.  Seligman  won 
not  only  the  respect  but  the  affectionate  regard  of  his  associates, 
who  look  to  his  memory  as  an  inspiring  example. 

New  Orleans  (La.)  Picayune,  May  5,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman  came  to  this  country  in  the  steerage  of  a  sailing- 
vessel,  landing  at  Castle  Garden  on  July  6,  1840,  says  the  New 
York  Times.     .     .     . 

Jesse  Seligman  soon  became  a  well-known  figure  in  the  social 
and  political  as  well  as  the  business  life  of  New  York.  He  was  a 
most  consistent  republican,  and  he  was  suggested  a  few  years  ago 
as  the  candidate  of  his  party  for  Mayor  of  the  city.  He  was  a 
vice-president  of  the  Union  League  Club,  and  a  member  of  a 
number  of  the  prominent  clubs.  He  was  also  actively  connected 
with  the  chai-itable  organizations  of  the  city. 

With  his  wife  and  family,  Mr.  Seligman  lived  in  a  fine  house  at 
2  East  Forty-sixth  Street,  next  door  to  the  Windsor  Hotel.  His 
summer  home  was  for  years  at  Long  Branch,  where  he  was  a 
neighbor  of  General  Grant,  while  the  latter  made  the  New  Jersey 
resort  his  headquarters  during  the  warm  seasons. 

Mr.  Seligman's  fortune  was  estimated  at  between  $20,000,000 
and  $30,000,000.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Hebrew  congregation 
of  the  Temple  Emanu-El.  His  family  consists,  besides  his  wife, 
of  three  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Up  to  the  time  of  his  departure  for  the  West,  Mr.  Seligman 
rarely  missed  a  day  at  his  office  in  the  Mills  Building,  on  Broad 
Street,  where  the  firm  of  J.  &  W.  Seligman  has  made  its  quarters 
ever  since  the  building  was  completed. 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  219 

Wilmington  (N.  C.)  Star,  May  3,  1894. 

When  Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  came  to  this  country  from 
Bavaria  in  1840  he  scrimmaged  along  and  lived  on  a  dollar  a  week. 
When  he  died  a  few  days  ago  he  left  a  fortune  of  $30,000,000. 
We  mention  this  that  the  fellows  who  are  scuffling  along  on  a  dollar 
a  week,  and  grabbing  hard  for  the  dollar,  may  take  courage  and 
keep  a  stiff  upper  lip. 

San  Antonio  (Tex.)  News,  May  4,  1894. 
The  life  of  Jesse  Seligman,  of  New  York,  who  recently  died  at 
Coronado  Beach,  Cal. ,  may  profitably  be  studied  by  the  young 
men  of  this  country.  He  began  his  career  without  a  dollar  in  his 
pocket,  and  left  a  fortune  of  fifteen  or  twenty  millions.  There  is 
not  a  blot  on  his  record.  His  social  relations  were  exceptionally 
pure,  and  his  business  conduct  characterized  by  the  highest  prin- 
ciples of  honor.  Too  often  it  is  said  that  great  riches  are  usually 
acquired  through  improper  transactions,  but  while  this  may  be 
true  in  some  or  many  instances,  it  is  not  always  the  fact.  Mr. 
Seligman  was  a  noble  example  of  this  latter  class. 

Chicago  (III.)  Herald,  May  i,  1894. 

The  body  of  Jesse  Seligman  arrived  from  San  Diego,  Cal. ,  at 
the  Grand  Central  station,  on  a  special  train,  at  7. 10  o'clock  last 
night.  The  train  consisted  of  two  drawing-room  cars  and  a 
baggage-car.  Those  who  accompanied  the  body  were  Mrs.  Jesse 
Seligman,  Theodore  Seligman,  Henry  Seligman,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Albert  Seligman,  Miss  Alice  and  Miss  Madeline  Seligman,  and 
Mrs.  Edward  Wasserman.  They  were  met  at  Albany  by  James 
Seligman,  Mrs.  Theodore  Hellman  and  Edward  Wasserman. 
Many  friends  were  at  the  Grand  Central  station. 

The  body  was  taken  to  the  Temple  Emanu-El,  Fifth  Avenue 
and  Forty-third  Street,  escorted  by  the  trustees  of  the  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum,  and  afterward  to  the  house  at  2  East  Forty-sixth 
Street.  A  cast  of  the  dead  banker's  head  was  taken  to  be  used  as 
a  model  for  the  statue  to  be  erected  in  the  grounds  of  the  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum.  Private  funeral  services  will  be  held  at  the  house 
at  nine  o'clock  Wednesday  morning,  followed  at  ten  by  public 
services  at  the  Temple  Emanu-El. 

PiQUA  (Ohio)  Leader,  May  4,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  the  well-known  New  York  banker,  who  has  just 
died  in  California,  was  better  entitled  to  the  name,  "  Napoleon  of 
Finance,"  than  Mr.  Ives,  the  man  who  received  it,  and  who  has 
just  died  in  North  Carolina.     Mr.  Seligman  arrived  in  New  York 


220  JESSE  SEUGMAN 

in  1S40  as  a  steerage  passenger,  practically  without  friends  or 
money,  yet  he  died  worth  $20,000,000,  acquired  by  legitimate 
business  methods,  and  in  addition  to  large  public  and  private 
benefactions.  Mr.  Ives  also  began  with  nothing,  and  made  large 
fortunes  more  rapidly,  but  by  wholly  different  methods,  and  with 
different  results.  The  example  of  the  two  financiers  show  that 
opportunities  for  money-making  still  exist  in  this  country,  pro- 
vided a  man  has  the  capacity  to  take  advantage  of  them.  It  also 
shows  that  legitimate  methods  of  bu.siness  are  in  the  long  run  the 
most  successful. 


Seattle  (Wash.)  Post  Intelligencer,  May  i,  1894. 

Jesse  Seligman,  head  of  the  great  New  York  banking  house  of 
Seligman  &  Co.,  who  died  at  Coronado  Beach,  Cal..  on  the  23d 
ult. ,  was  a  true  American  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  although  he 
was  of  Hebrew  blood  and  faith,  and  came  to  this  country,  a  poor 
immigrant  from  Bavaria,  in  1S41.  When  this  poor  Jewish  boy 
landed  in  New  York  City  fifty-three  years  ago,  he  was  ignorant 
of  our  language,  and  he  had  the  stupid  race  prejudice  to  contend 
with,  far  more  bitter  then  than  now,  for  the  Jews  were  weak  in 
numbers  and  wealth  at  that  day  in  this  country.  He  carried  a 
peddler's  pack  on  his  back,  and  tramped  for  a  living  for  several 
years.  He  saved  his  money,  and,  with  his  brothers,  set  up  in  the 
stationery  business.  In  1850  he  went  to  California,  and  in  a  few 
years  made  a  comfortable  fortune  in  trade.  From  the  first  he  was 
a  good  citizen. 

In  California  he  was  a  member  of  a  fire  company,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Vigilance  Committee  of  1856  and  of  the  Committee 
of  Forty.  He  returned  to  New  York  in  1857,  and  went  into  the 
wholesale  clothing  business  with  his  brother.  In  1S62  the  Selig- 
man brothers  founded  their  banking  house  and  placed  our  Govern- 
ment bonds  abroad,  and  rose  to  be  one  of  the  great  banking 
hou-ses  of  the  world. 

Jesse  Seligman  was  always  a  republican.  He  had  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  League  Club  for  twenty  years ;  had  been  its  Vice- 
President  fourteen  years,  but  resigned  last  year  when  his  .son  was 
blackballed  solely  because  he  was  a  Hebrew,  but  his  resignation 
was  refused  and  never  acted  upon.  Mr.  Seligman  was  renowned 
for  his  benevolence  and  his  patriotism.  He  had  been  President 
for  twenty  years  of  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  which  opened 
with  fourteen  inmates  and  now  contains  600,  and  he  contributed 
largely  to  its  support.  He  was  a  member  of  the  New  York  Asso- 
ciation for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  of  the  Metropoli- 
tan Museum  of  Art,  and  of  the  Museum  of  Natural  History.     His 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  221 

personal  wealth  is  estimated  at  $10,000,000.  That  of  this 
combined  banking  houses  is  probably  half  a  dozen  times  as 
large. 

We  have  recited  these  facts  in  the  career  of  Jesse  Seligman, 
■who  came  to  this  country  a  poor  Bavarian  Jew  boy,  fourteen  years 
old,  in  1841,  and  in  1865,  before  he  was  thirty-eight  years  old,  was 
one  of  the  first  bankers  in  New  York  City,  and  before  his  death 
was  one  of  the  first  bankers  of  the  world,  in  order  to  point  out  that 
a  true  American  is  the  man  who  imbibes  the  spirit  of  American 
institutions  and  avails  himself  of  the  industrial  opportunities  they 
afford,  no  matter  whether  he  is  a  Jew  or  a  Gentile ;  no  matter 
whether  he  is  born  in  Bavaria  or  born  in  Massachusetts.  Jesse 
Seligman  made  his  money,  starting  from  the  ground  without  a 
dollar,  just  as  nearly  all  the  successful  men  in  this  country  have 
done ;  he  began  at  the  bottom  like  Stephen  Girard,  John  Jacob 
Astor,  and  Cornelius  Vanderbilt,  and  he  won  by  practicing  the 
same  virtues  of  industry,  economy  and  perseverance,  joined  to 
exceptional  business  sagacity,  which  sees  the  opportunity  and 
instantly  seizes  it. 

Nearly  all  the  prosperous  men  in  business  and  the  professions 
began  as  poor  boys.  Jesse  Seligman,  like  Girard,  Vanderbilt  and 
Astor,  saw  his  chance  in  America  and  went  resolutely  and  honestly 
and  patriotically  to  make  the  most  of  his  opportunities  in  America. 
His  fervid  patriotism,  his  life-long  benevolence  give  the  lie  to  the 
base  abuse  of  the  Jew  that  obtains  in  Europe  and  in  some  spots 
in  America,  ascribing  to  him  lack  of  patriotism,  race  clannishness 
and  indifference  to  the  claims  of  good  citizenship. 

Whether  in  England,  France,  Germany  or  the  United  States 
there  is  no  foundation  for  this  stupid  prejudice  against  the  Jews, 
which  really  springs  out  of  envy  for  their  superior  commercial 
acuteness  and  success.  They  are,  as  a  rule,  good  citizens,  law- 
abiding  and  patriotic,  and  of  the  career  of  Jesse  Seligman  and 
men  of  his  calibre  the  New  York  Sun  says : 

"The  fortunes  in  this  country  are  new.  They  are  possessed 
almost  wholly  by  those  who  accumulated  them  themselves  from 
small  beginnings.  If  contemptible  envy  of  their  success  shall 
induce  legislation  to  punish  their  thrift  by  the  penalty  of  special 
taxation  directed  against  a  quaUty  so  essential  to  the  preservation 
and  the  highest  development  of  society,  the  blow  will  be  struck 
against  everybody  who  is  striving  to  get  ahead  in  the  world. 
Such  legislative  discrimination  would  be  a  new  obstacle  to  pro- 
gress. It  would  tend  to  discourage  such  virtue  and  enterprise. 
The  logical  consequence  of  the  principle  would  be  further  and 
heavier  impositions  fatal  to  their  cultivation.  Really,  it  is  against 
the  poor  man  as  much  as  the  rich  man,  for  the   great  mass  of  the 


222  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

rich  men  to  be  are  now  poor  men  struggling  to  win  the  independ- 
ence of  wealth. 

"  At  this  time  a  vicious  and  a  vile  doctrine  is  preached  by  dema- 
gogues and  social  disturbers  in  this  country.  So  far  as  it  is  fol- 
lowed, it  will  be  hurtful  to  the  poor  far  more  than  to  the  rich.  It 
is  un-American  and  un-democratic  in  both  a  general  and  a  specific 
partisan  sense.  It  is  the  teaching  of  laggards  and  cowards  who 
seek  to  hold  back  the  march  of  progress  and  to  demoralize  the  line 
pressing  forward  boldly  and  eagerly  to  fight  the  battle  of  life." 

Nkw  Brighton  (N.  Y.)  Standard,  May  19,  1894. 
The  possibilities  of  American  life  are  well  exemplified  in  the 
career  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman,  the  New  York  banker.  He  him- 
self told  that  his  first  hard  work  when  he  landed,  in  1840,  was  "to 
find  a  fair  boarding  house  for  one  dollar  a  week."  The  fortune 
he  leaves  is  estimated  at  $30,000,000. 

New  York  Evening  World,  May  24,  1894. 

The  petition  for  a  citation  and  legatees  under  the  will  of  the  late 
Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  April  23  last,  in  California,  were  filed 
with  Probate  Clerk  Washburn  in  the  Surrogates'  office  to-day. 

The  immediate  family  and  other  relatives  of  the  dead  million- 
aire are  named  as  heirs,  and  the  following  charitable  institutions 
and  organizations:  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum  Soci- 
ety, Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Hebrews, 
United  Hebrew  Charities  of  New  York,  Ladies'  Sewing  Society  of 
Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum,   Hebrew  Free  School 
Association,   Hebrew  Sheltering  and  Guardian  Society,    Roman 
Catholic    Orphan   Asylum,    German    Hospital    and    Dispensary, 
Ladies'  Auxiliary  Society  of  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  Ladies'  Debo-  . 
rah   Nursery  and  Child's   Protectory,   Ladies'   Hebrew  Lying-in 
Society,  Association  for  the  Improved  Instruction  of  Deaf-Mutes, 
Five  Points  House  of  Industry,  Union  Home  and  School  for  Sol- 
diers and  Sailors'  Orphans  of  New  York  City,  Orphans'  Home  and 
Asylum  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  Colored  Orphan  Asy- 
lum and  Association  for  the  Benefit  of  Colored  Children,  New 
York  Ophthalmic  and  Aural  Institute,  Children's  Charitable  Union, 
Woman's    Hospital,    St.    Francis     Hospital,    American    Female 
Guardian  Society  and  Home  for  Friendless  Women  and  Children, 
Association  for  Improving  the  Condition  of  the  Poor,  Peabody 
Home  for  Aged  and  Indigent  Women,  St.  John's  Floating  Hospi- 
tal,  Howard   Mission  and   Home  for   Little  Wanderers,   Demilt 
Dispensary  in  New  York,  German  Dispensary  in  the  City  of  New 
York;  Eastern,  Harlem,  New  York,  North-eastern,  North-western 
Dispensaries  of  New  York  City,  New  York  Dispensary  for  Sick 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  223 

Children,  Sheltering  Arms,  Brace  Memorial  Lodging-House, 
Home  for  the  Aged,  Home  for  Fallen  and  Friendless  Girls,  State 
Charitable  Aid  Association,  New  York  Homoeopathic  College  and 
Dispensary,  the  Charity  Organization  Society  of  New  York  City. 
Montefiore  Home  for  Chronic  Invalids. 


New  York  World,  May  3,  1894. 

The  funeral  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman,  who  died  at  Coronado 
Beach,  Cal. ,  April  23,  was  held  at  10  A.  M.  yesterday,  in  Temple 
Emanu-El,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-third  Street.  The  beautiful 
edifice  was  crowded,  and  hundreds  were  unable  to  gain  admittance. 
The  gathering  comprised  the  rich  and  poor  of  all  denominations 
and  nationalities. 

Services  were  held  at  the  family  residence,  2  East  Forty-sixth 
Street,  earlier  in  the  morning.  The  body  was  then  escorted  to 
the  Temple  by  the  pall-bearers  who  were :  Seth  Low,  President  of 
Columbia  College;  Cornelius  N.  Bliss,  Henry  Rice,  President  of 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities ;  John  A.  Stewart,  President  of  the 
United  States  Trust  Company;  Oscar  S.  Straus,  ex-Minister  to 
Turkey ;  General  Horace  Porter,  President  of  the  Union  League 
Club  ;  William  M.  Evarts,  Lewis  May,  President  of  Temple 
Emanu-El;  ex-Mayor  Abram  S.  Hewitt,  General  Benjamin  F. 
Tracy,  Mayor  Gilroy,  Emanuel  Lehman,  Thomas  Dolan,  of  Phila- 
delphia; Louis  Gans,  John  Wanamaker,  Carl  Schurz,  Colonel 
Fred.  D.  Grant,  Colonel  John  J.  McCook,  Abraham  Wolff,  ex- 
Judge  John  F.  Dillon,  D.  Willis  James,  A.  D.  Juilliard,  Edwin 
Einstein,  Colonel  William  L.  Strong,  William  Walter  Phelps, 
Hyman  Blum,  Charles  H.  Cramp,  Myer  Stern,  Simon  W.  Rosen- 
dale,  Edward  Lauterbach,  James  McCreery,  Myer  S.  Isaacs, 
John  Crosby  Brown,  Dr.  H.  Baar.  Edwin  H.  Adams,  James  H. 
Hoffman,  J.  Hood  Wright,  Julius  Goldman  and  A.  S.  Solomons. 

As  the  body  was  carried  up  the  aisle  of  the  Temple,  a  quartet 
rendered  the  hymn,  "  Cast  Thy  Burden."  The  casket  was  carried 
to  the  altar,  upon  which  were  150  children  from  the  Hebrew 
Orphan  Asylum,  of  which  Mr.  Seligman  was  President.  Follow- 
ing the  pall-bearers  into  the  synagogue  were  the  members  of  the 
family,  the  widow,  her  son  Theodore,  the  younger  sons,  Albert 
and  Henry,  and  the  daughters,  Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman  and  the 
Misses  Alice  and  Madeline  Seligman.  Then  came  James  Selig- 
man, a  brother  of  the  deceased,  and  his  daughter,  Miss  Florentine 
Seligman.    Besides  these  were  the  other  relatives  of  the  deceased. 

The  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil  and  his 
assistant,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Silverman.  The  choral  programme  was 
under  the  supervision  of  Frank  van  Der  Stucken.    Representatives 


224  JESSE  SELIGMAN 

from  many  bodies  and  societies  to  which  Mr.  Seligman  belonged 
were  also  present.  The  body  was  taken  to  Salem  Fields,  Cypress 
Hills  Cemetery,  for  burial. 

New  York  Times,  May  3,  1894. 

Representatives  of  almost  every  creed  and  nationality  attended 
the  funeral  in  Temple  Emanu-El,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty-third 
Street,  yesterday  morning,  of  Jesse  Seligman,  the  banker,  who 
died  on  April  23  at  Coronado  Beach,  Cal.  Among  the  2,000  per- 
sons present  were  hundreds  of  leaders  in  the  social,  financial  and 
political  life  of  the  city.  Long  before  ten  o'clock  every  seat  on  the 
floor  of  the  Temple  and  in  the  galleries  was  taken. 

Promptly  at  ten  o'clock  the  coffin  was  borne  into  the  Temple, 
followed  by  the  pall-bearers,  and  placed  at  the  end  of  the  centre 
aisle  in  front  of  the  altar,  where  it  lay  during  the  ceremonies, 
surrounded  by  silent  tributes  to  Mr.  Seligman's  memory  in  the 
form  of  innumerable  floral  offerings.  The  coffin  was  completely 
hidden  in  a  mass  of  violets,  ivy,  and  maidenhair  ferns.  At  its 
head  rested  a  huge  mound  of  white  cut  flowers,  in  which  was 
imbedded  the  word  "  Father,"  composed  of  bunches  of  violets. 

Over  one  hundred  boys  and  girls  from  the  Hebrew  Benevolent 
and  Orphan  A.sylum,  of  which  Mr.  Seligman  was  President,  occu- 
pied the  platform  in  front  of  the  ark. 

The  front  pews  were  reserved  for  the  chief  mourners  and  the 
pall-bearers.  Among  those  in  the  first  pews  were  Mrs.  Jesse 
Seligman  and  her  three  sons,  Theodore,  Albert  and  Henry  Selig- 
man ;  Mrs.  Albert  Seligman,  Mrs.  Emma  Wasserman,  the  Misses 
Alice  and  Madeline  Seligman,  Edward  Wasserman,  Mrs.  Theodore 
Hellman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jefferson  Seligman,  Washington  SeHg- 
man,  Alfred  Seligman,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  De  Witt  J.  Seligman,  David 
L.  Einstein,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Bernhcimer. 

Back  of  the  Seligman  family,  and  to  the  left  of  the  centre  aisle^ 
sat  the  pall-bearers. 

Several  pews  were  also  reserved  for  a  delegation  of  members  of 
the  Union  League  Club,  among  whom  were  the  following ; 

William  H.  Webb,  Salem  H.  Wales,  S.  P.  Avery,  Logan  C. 
Murray,  James  G.  De  Forest,  Henry  C.  Yale,  Colonel  Joel  B. 
Erhardt,  Sigourney  W.  Fay,  H.  L.  Horton,  Joseph  Pool,  Vincenzo 
Botta,  Jacob  Wendell,  W.  P.  St.  John,  Stephen  R.  Lesher,  W.  H. 
Falconer,  Dr.  William  Argyle  Watson,  John  F.  Plummer,  C.  H. 
T.  CoUis,  William  L.  Pomeroy,  A.  G.  Hyde,  John  D.  Lawson, 
Jonathan  H.  Crane,  E.  B.  Hin.sdale,  Elihu  Root,  J.  Seaver  Page, 
William  Buchanan,  Henry  B.  Plant,  Tilden  Blodgett,  Isaac  Town- 
send  Smith,  C.  T.  Cook,  Charles  E.  Whitehead,  Jame^  A.  Hayden, 
Henry  Bedlow,  Edward  A.  Wickes,  George  F.  Crane,  Henry  Yale, 


NEWSPAPER    EXTRACTS  2  25 

John  Elderkin,  Charles  F.  Roe,  George  Harral,  W.  Q.  Riddel, 
Richard  Butler,  James  A.  Parsons,  J.  S.  Barnes,  John  Scott  Boyd, 
F.  Taylor,  W.  H.  Brown,  Dorman  B.  Eaton,  E.  H.  Moeran,  John 
K.  Cilley,  Thomas  Hillhouse,  Robbin  Little,  George  B.  Adams, 
Hugh  N.  Camp,  J.  S.  Warren,  Thomas  B.  Clarke,  C.  L.  Tiffany, 
Samuel  Shethar,  John  Sloane,  D.  F.  Appleton,  William  Tousey, 
W.  T.  Schley,  O.  D.  Munn,  Henry  Thompson,  M.  C.  Addoms, 
Emerson  Foote,  Charles  H.  Coffin,  Herbert  P.  Brown,  and  J. 
Adriance  Bush. 

A  large  number  of  the  officers  and  employees  of  the  various 
charitable  institutions  which  owe  much  of  their  support  to  the 
benevolence  of  Mr.  Seligman  were  present  at  the  funeral.  Among 
them  were  representatives  of  the  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  He- 
brews, the  Russian-American  Hebrew  Association,  the  Mount 
Sinai  Hospital,  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Association,  the  Hebrew 
Sheltering  Guardian  Society,  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Purim  Associa- 
tion, the  Independent  Order  of  B'ne  B'rith,  Sanitarium  for  Hebrew^ 
Children,  Ladies'  Auxiliary  Society  of  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  the 
Hebrew  Technical  Institute  and  the  Montefiore  Home. 

The  funeral  services  were  begun  with  a  Psalm  read  by  Cantor 
Sparger,  which  was  followed  by  the  rendering  of  the  "  Shivise,'' 
the  Hebrew  morning  anthem.,  by  a  quartet,  directed  by  Frank  van 
der  Stucken,  and  composed  of  Miss  Fannie  Hirsch,  soprano ;  Mrs. 
A.  Buckley  Hills,  alto ;  Charles  Fritch,  tenor,  and  Signer  C.  Bo- 
logna, bass.  During  the  services  the  quartet,  accompanied  by  A. 
J.  Davis,  organist,  rendered  "Cast  Thy  Burden,"  "Adagio,"  by 
Tschaikowsky,  and  "Parting  and  Meeting." 

Following  the  first  anthem,  Dr.  Joseph  Silverman,  Junior 
Minister-Rabbi  of  the  Temple,  addressed  the  assemblage, 
saying : 

"  I  come  to  bury  Jesse  Seligman,  not  to  praise  him.  We  come 
together  not  to  eulogize  merely,  nor  to  glorify  our  beloved  dead' 
but  simply  to  take  part,  as  servants  of  God,  in  his  triumphant 
march  from  earth  to  heaven.  Those  who  do  not  understand  will 
say  that  Jesse  Seligman  is  dead.  To  us  it  seems  as  if  he  has  but 
begun  a  grand  existence.  Can  it  be  that  God  sent  a  soul  like  his 
to  the  earth  in  vain? 

"  He  cannot  be  annihilated  who  has  immortalized  himself  in  an 
institution  like  the  Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  which  his  mind  and 
heart  inspired.  A  life  that  is  beyond  the  power  of  death  is  beyond 
the  scope  of  eulogy.  There  are  some  lives  like  this  of  Jesse  Selig- 
man which  are  subjects  for  the  poet. 

"We  have  found  in  him  more  than  merely  the  friend  of  the  poor, 
the  father  of  the  orphan;  even  more  than  the  ethical  man— we 
have  found  in  him  the  representative  Jew.     May  God  receive  his 


2  26  JESSE    SELIGMAN 

soul  1     May  He  enshrine  il  with  the  love  of  his  fenow-men,  an<l 
place  it  in  the  grand  galaxy  of  all  the  immortals." 

After  the  choir  had  sung  another  anthem.  Dr.  Gustav  Gottheil. 
Senior  Minister-Rabbi  of  the  Temple,  delivered  an  address,  in 
which  he  said: 

"  It  is  a  common  form  of  expression  to  speak  of  the  right  man 
in  the  right  place.  I  say  that  if  a  voice  from  heaven  had  elected 
Jesse  vSeligman  to  till  the  place  of  father  and  mother  to  the  father- 
less and  motherless,  the  choice  could  not  have  been  better  made." 

Dr.  Gottheil  announced  at  the  conclusion  of  his  address  that  tlie 
Mourners'  Prayers  would  be  held  at  the  home  of  the  bereaved 
family  last  night  and  to-night. 

After  the  blessing  had  been  pronounced,  the  cotRn  was  taken 
from  the  synagogue  to  the  hearse,  being  preceded  down  the  cen- 
tre aisle  by  the  pall-bearers  and  followed  by  the  mourners. 

A  long  line  of  carriages  followed  the  hearse  to  the  Salem  Fields 
Cemetery  at  Cypress  Hills,  L.  I.,  where  the  interment  took  place. 

N.  Y.  Evening  World,  May  2,  1894. 

Most  impressive  funeral  services  were  held  at  the  Temple 
Emanu-El,  at  Forty-third  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  this  morning, 
in  commemoration  of  the  late  Jesse  Seligman,  the  banker,  who 
died  on  April  23,  at  Coronado  Beach,  Cal. 

The  ceremonies  began  at  ten  o'clock.  At  that  hour  the  syna- 
gogue was  crowded.  The  aisles  and  galleries  were  packed  with 
persons,  and  manv  hundreds  were  clamoring  for  admission  at  the 
entrance.  Fully  2,000  persons  were  in  the  building  when  the 
hearse  bearing  the  body  of  the  late  banker  arrived  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue  entrance  from  the  Seligman  residence,  on  East  Forty- 
sixth  street. 

It  was  accompanied  by  members  of  the  banker's  family,  all  of 
whom  were  in  deep  mourning.  They  preceded  the  coffin  into  the 
Temple  and  were  escorted  to  the  seats  reserved  for  them  at  the 
head  of  the  centre  aisle.  Among  them  were  Mrs.  vSeligman,  the 
widow  ;  her  three  sons,  Theodore,  Albert  and  Heniy  ;  Mrs.  Albert 
Seligman,  Mrs.  Emma  \Vas.sernian,  Misses  Alice  and  Madeline 
Seligman,  Edward  Wasserman,  Mrs.  Theodore  Hellmau,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jefferson  Seligman,  Washington  Seligman,  Alfred  Selig- 
man, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dewitt  J.  Seligman,  David  L.  Einstein  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Bernheimer. 

The  crowd  made  way  for  the  mourners  and  the  coffin  to  pass  in. 
The  casket  was  completely  enveloped  in  a  covering  of  violets  and 
smilax  intertwined. 

Upon  the  altar  was  a  chorus  o(    150  boys  from  the   Hebrew 


NEWSPAPER   EXTRACTS  227 

Orphan  Asylum.     The  front  of  the  altar  was  buried  under  a  pro- 
fusion of  white  blossoms  and  pots  of  flowering  plants. 

To  the  left  of  the  centre  sat  the  pall-bearers. 

Seats  were  also  reserved  for  a  delegation  of  sixty  members  of 
the  Union  League  Club,  which  marched  in  double  file  up  the 
avenue  from  the  club-house  at  Thirty-ninth  Street,  with  General 
Horace  Porter  at  the  head. 

There  were  also  present  delegations  of  the  officers  and  em- 
ployees of  the  many  charitable  and  benevolent  and  other  organiza- 
tions in  which  Mr.  Seligman  was  interested,  and  to  the  support 
of  which  he  contributed. 

Among  them  are  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  the  United  Hebrew 
Charities,  Home  for  Aged  and  Infirm  Hebrews,  the  Russian- 
American  Hebrew  Association,  the  Young  Men's  Hebrew  Associa- 
tion, the  Hebrew  Sheltering  Guardian  Society,  Orphan  Asylum, 
the  Purim  Association,  the  Independent  Order  of  B'ne  B'rith, 
Sanitarium  for  Hebrew  Children,  Ladies  Auxiliary  Society  of 
Mount  Sinai  Ho.spital,  the  Hebrew  Technical  Institute,  the  Mon- 
tefiore  Home,  and  many  others.  Places  were  reserved  for  all 
these. 

In  the  vast  audience  were  the  heads  of  many  of  the  leading 
banking  houses  and  financial  institutions  of  Wall  Street,  among 
whom  were  noticed  representatives  from  the  houses  of  Drexel, 
Morgan  &  Co.,  Lazard  Freres,  I.  &  S.  Wormser,  Knauth,  Nachod 
&  Kuhne,  Ladenburg,  Thalman  &  Co.,  Kuhn,  Loeb  &  Co.,  Julius 
Hallgarten  &  Co.,  and  others. 

The  musical  programme  prepared  for  the  occasion  under  the 
direction  of  the  organist  of  the  Temple  was  simple,  yet  impressive. 
A  solemn  dirge  was  sung  while  the  casket  was  being  borne  up  to 
the  altar. 

The  funeral  services  were  conducted  by  Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil  and 
his  assistant,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Silverman.  The  latter  first  made  a 
long  address,  in  which  he  eulogized  the  dead  banker  for  his  noble 
character,  simplicity  of  life,  generosity  and  philanthropy,  and 
declared  that  humanity  had  suffered  an  irreparable  loss  in  the 
death  of  Mr.  Seligman.  Dr.  Gottheil  followed  him  with  a  brief 
address,  in  which  he  dwelt  more  upon  the  purity  of  his  private  life 
and  the  social  and  domestic  qualities  of  the  dead  philanthropist. 

The  ceremonies  were  not  completed  until  nearly  noon.  The 
body  was  taken  to  Salem  Fields,  Cypress  Hills  Cemeterj',  for 
burial. 

N.  Y.  Evening  Sun,  May  2,  1894. 
Tv.-o  thousand  persons  attended  the  funeral  of  the  late  Jesse 
Seligman,  at  the  Temple  Emanu-El,  Fifth  Avenue   and  Forty- 


228  JESSE   SELIGMAN 

third  Street,  this  morning,  and  probably  as  many  more  were 
unable  to  obtain  admission  to  the  Temple. 

The  services  brought  together  a  throng  of  well-known  New 
Yorkers.  All  the  many  societies  and  charities  with  which  Mr. 
Seligman  associated  sent  delegations. 

The  Union  League  Club  sent  seventy  of  its  members.  Delega- 
tions also  came  from  the  Hebrew  Benevolent  and  Orphan  Asylum 
Society,  the  Montefiore  Home  for  Chronic  Invalids,  the  Home  for 
Aged  and  Infirm,  the  Hebrew  Technical  Institute,  the  Aguilar 
Free  Library,  the  Educational  Alliance,  the  Purim  Association, 
the  United  Hebrew  Charities,  the  Ladies*  Sewing  Society  of  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum,  the  Seligman-Solomon  Society,  the 
Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  the  Baron  Hirsch  Fund,  the  Ladies  Aux- 
iliary Society  of  Mount  Sinai  Hospital,  the  Hebrew  Free  School 
Association,  the  Lebanon  Hospital  Association,  and  the  Independ- 
ent Order  B'ne  B'rith. 

It  was  ten  o'clock  when  the  coffin  was  borne  up  the  aisle,  with 
the  pall-bearers  following,  and  placed  on  a  black-covered  stand 
directly  in  front  of  a  great  mass  of  flowers  bearing  the  word 
"Father,"  and  a  beautiful  wreath  which  had  come  from  the 
Hebrew  Orphan  Asylum.     Other  floral  tributes  were  near  by. 

The  members  of  the  immediate  familj'  sat  at  the  head  of  the 
aisle. 

The  music  was  furnished  by  a  quartet  directed  by  Mr.  Frank 
van  der  vStucken.  A.  J.  Davis  was  at  the  organ,  and  the  Rev. 
William  Sparger  was  cantor. 

The  services  were  conducted  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gottheil,  assisted 
by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Silverman. 

The  funeral  cortege,  after  leaving  the  church,  went  to  the 
Twenty-third  Street  ferry.  The  interment  was  in  the  Salem 
Fields  Cemetery,  at  Cypress  Hills,  Long  Island. 

Philadelphia  (Pa.)  Public  Ledger,  May  3,  1894. 

Although  Jesse  Seligman  was  a  Hebrew  and  a  republican,  every 
religion  and  every  party  were  represented  at  his  funeral  to-day  in 
the  Temple  Emanu-El.  Bishop  Potter,  of  the  Protestant  Episco- 
pal Church,  and  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall,  pastor  of  the  Fifth  Avenue 
Presbyterian  Church,  were  among  the  great  throng  which  filled 
the  Temple. 

San  Francisco  (Cal.)  Chronicle,  May  3,  1894. 

The  public  funeral  services  over  the  body  of  Jesse  Seligman 
were  held  at  the  Temple  Emanu-El  at  ten  o'clock  to-day.  The 
funeral  was  very  largely  attended,  more  so  than  any  funeral  in 
many  years.     The  spacious  synagogue  where  the  services  were 


NEWSPAPER  EXTRACTS  229 

held  was  crowded  by  legions  of  the  friends  and  acquaintances  who 
had  come  into  contact  with  Mr.  Seligman  during  his  career,  and 
the  crowds  who  were  trying  to  gain  admission  extended  far  out 
into  the  street.  Every  seat  within  the  church  was  occupied,  and 
the  space  between  the  pews  was  filled  up  by  occupied  camp  chairs. 
More  than  3000  people  came  to  church  to  pay  farewell  respects  to 
the  dead  banker. 

In  the  audience  were  men  of  national  repute — Senators,  Judges, 
Representatives,  generals,  merchants,  bankers  and  preachers 
many  of  them  of  the  Christian  faith,  besides  thousands  in  the 
middle  walks  of  life.     .     .     . 

The  services  were  opened  bj'  an  address  by  Rabbi  Joseph 
Silverman,  who  spoke  feelingly  of  Mr.  Seligman' s  modesty,  high 
character,  manhood  and  charity.  This  was  followed  by  a  hymn — 
"  Parting  and  Meeting" — rendered  by  a  quartet.  Rev.  Dr.  Gott- 
heil  then  delivered  a  eulog)'-  on  the  dead  banker. 

More  than  one  hundred  carriages  followed  the  body.  The 
interment  took  place  at  Salem  Fields  Cemetery,  Long  Island  City, 
in  the  family  mausoleum. 


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DUE  DATE 

M       6LX 

.DEC  1  4 

994 

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